Ranking SEC basketball head coaches by salary from 2025-26 season

While Texas A&M's Bucky McMillan isn't one of the highest-paid head coaches in college basketball, he certainly proved why he should be.

When McMillan was hired on April 4, 2025, he inherited a roster with only one scholarship player. Bucky recruited an impressive haul of transfer stars and turned Texas A&M into a national contender in just his first year at the helm. The Aggies secured a win over Saint Mary's in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Houston in the second round.

Texas A&M was an elite competitor at the top of the SEC throughout much of the season. Still, veteran head coaches like John Calipari, Rick Barnes and Todd Golden provided the league with extremely difficult obstacles to overcome, which is why they rank as the top-three highest-paid head coaches in the conference.

Here is where every SEC men's basketball head coach ranked in annual salary during the 2025-2026 athletic year:

1. John Calipari (Arkansas)

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Head coach John Calipari of the Arkansas Razorbacks reacts against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 26, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 28-9 (13-5 in SEC play)

Total pay: $7,750,000

School pay: $7,750,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: N/A

School buyout: $22,203,125

2. Rick Barnes (Tennessee)

March 29, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.

2025-2026 record: 25-12 (11-7 in SEC play)

Total pay: $6,200,000

School pay: $6,200,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: $3,000,000

School buyout: $12,250,000

3. Todd Golden (Florida)

Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden looks on against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

2025-2026 record: 27-8 (16-2 in SEC play)

Total pay: $6,000,000

School pay: $5,750,000

Other pay: $250,000

Maximum bonus: $650,000

School buyout: $34,000,000

4. Chris Beard (Ole Miss)

Mississippi men's basketball coach Chris Beard reacts toward an official during his team's game against Mississippi State at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.

2025-2026 record: 15-20 (4-14 in SEC play)

Total pay: $6,000,000

School pay: $1,150,000

Other pay: $4,850,000

Maximum bonus: $875,000

School buyout: $23,625,000

5. Nate Oats (Alabama)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 25-10 (13-5 in SEC play)

Total pay: $5,510,000

School pay: $5,510,000

Other pay: $0

Maximum bonus: $850,000

School buyout: $26,913,440

6. Mark Pope (Kentucky)

Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Chris Beard looks on as Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope yells to his players during the second half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

2025-2026 record: 22-14 (10-8 in SEC play)

Total pay: $5,250,000

School pay: $5,250,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: $700,000

School buyout: $12,937,500

7. Sean Miller (Texas)

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 21: Head coach Sean Miller of the Texas Longhorns looks on against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 21-15 (9-9 in SEC play)

Total pay: $5,055,000

School pay: $5,055,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: $850,000

School buyout: $22,950,000

8. Chris Jans (Mississippi State)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Head coach Chris Jans of the Mississippi State Bulldogs talks with Josh Hubbard #12 against the Auburn Tigers during the second half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 13-19 (5-13 in SEC play)

Total pay: $4,400,000

School pay: $4,400,000

Other pay: $0

Maximum bonus: $825,000

School buyout: $12,000,000

9. Dennis Gates (Missouri)

Jan 14, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates talks with Missouri Tigers center Peyton Marshall (21) against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

2025-2026 record: 20-13 (10-8 in SEC play)

Total pay: $4,200,000

School pay: $4,200,000

Other pay: $0

Maximum bonus: $655,000

School buyout: $13,020,833

10. Lamont Paris (South Carolina)

Mar 11, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris watches his team against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

2025-2026 record: 13-19 (4-14 in SEC play)

Total pay: $4,000,000

School pay: $4,000,000

Other pay: $0

Maximum bonus: $765,000

School buyout: $12,025,000

11. Michael White (Georgia)

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Head coach Mike White of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on during the second half against the Saint Louis Billikens in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 22-11 (10-8 in SEC play)

Total pay: $3,910,000

School pay: $3,910,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: $450,000

School buyout: $16,031,875

12. Porter Moser (Oklahoma)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 05: Head coach Porter Moser of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the first half of the championship game of the College Basketball Crown tournament at T-Mobile Arena on April 05, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mountaineers defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 89-82 in overtime. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 21-16 (7-11 in SEC play)

Total pay: $3,300,000

School pay: $3,400,000

Other pay: $0

Maximum bonus: $270,000

School buyout: $6,075,000

13. Bucky McMillan (Texas A&M)

Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Bucky McMillan stands on the sidelines during the second half against the Houston Cougars in a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

2025-2026 record: 22-12 (11-7 in SEC play)

Total pay: $3,075,000

School pay: $3,075,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: $850,000

School buyout: $10,400,000

14. Steven Pearl (Auburn)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Steven Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the first half of a Players Era Championship basketball tournament game against the Oregon Ducks at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 24, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 22-16 (7-11 in SEC play)

Total pay: $3,000,000

School pay: $3,000,000

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: $1,425,000

School buyout: $6,125,000

15. Matt McMahon (LSU)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Head coach Matt McMahon of the LSU Tigers reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

2025-2026 record: 15-17 (3-15 in SEC play)

Total pay: $2,905,000

School pay: $2,900,000

Other pay: $5,000

Maximum bonus: $625,000

School buyout: $8,020,000

16. Mark Byington (Vanderbilt)

Mar 15, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Mark Byington yells instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half during the men's SEC Conference Tournament Championship at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

2025-2026 record: 27-9 (11-7 in SEC play)

Total pay: N/A

School pay: N/A

Other pay: N/A

Maximum bonus: N/A

School buyout: N/A

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Where does Bucky McMillan rank among SEC basketball coach salaries?