New contract for Tommy Lloyd includes increased pay for assistants, larger buyout to take Big 12 opening

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats looks on against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tommy Lloyd will average $7.5 million during his 5-year contract extension, which is set to be approved this week by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Lloyd, who agreed to the extension through the 2030-31 season last week, will earn $7.19 million in 2026-27, up from $5.1 million this past season when he led the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 2001. He will earn $7.81 million in the final year of his deal.

The $7.19 million will include a base salary of $5 million, $1.44 million from Arizona Sports Enterprises and $750,000 for “additional duties.”

The contract extension came about as North Carolina pursued Lloyd for its head coaching vacancy, which ended up going to former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone.

In addition to Lloyd’s hefty raise, his assistants will be getting pay bumps as well. The new contract includes $2.9 million annually for Arizona’s staff, with the ability to sign assistants to 3-year deals.

If Arizona were to terminate Lloyd without cause it would owe him 100 percent of the remaining deal. If Lloyd were to leave the school and take another job in college athletics during the first year of his contract he’d owe an $11 million buyout, down to $9 million in the second year, $6 million in the third and $3 million in the fourth.

An additional $1 million would be added to the buyout if Lloyd were to go to another Big 12 school, a change from the previous contract which included a 1-year no-compete clause for any Big 12 opening.

Though not mentioned in the contract, it has been reported that Lloyd will no longer report to athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois, instead he’ll work directly with UA school president Suresh Garimella.