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Top 10 highest-paid assistant men’s basketball coaches at major schools last season

By Derek Helling

Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats enter the arena before the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats enter the arena before the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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The most lucrative men’s college basketball programs in the nation share the wealth with not only the programs’ head men but their staffs as well.

Head men’s basketball coaches’ contracts at major universities are often the topic of conversation, but the real demonstrator of a program’s wealth is how well the assistants are paid. The coaches on the top 10 highest-paid assistant men’s basketball coaches list are better compensated than some head coaches at schools outside of the major conference structure.

A collaborative effort between AthleticDirectorU, Spencer Fane and USA Today has created a comprehensive list of the compensation for the 2016-17 NCAA men’s basketball season at all of the major schools. This includes both private and public institutions among the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC.

This compensation information not only includes bonuses and salaries, but compensation from other sources not attached to their duties at their respective schools as well. That can all add up to an amount of money that most fans would consider life-changing.

Even within the top 10 coaches on the list, there is great disparity in compensation. The top earner made over $800,000 last season from all sources, while the 10th-highest earner made less than half of that. This proves that even within the major conference structure, the resources that various schools devote toward their men’s basketball programs can vary greatly.

Top pay for assistant coaches didn’t necessarily translate to on-court success last season. Three of the coaches in the top 10 worked for programs which failed to qualify for the NCAA D1 men’s basketball national championship tournament last season.

Here are the top 10 highest-paid assistant men’s basketball coaches among major schools for the 2016-17 season.

10. Melvin Watkins, Arkansas

Just having concluded his sixth season with the Razorbacks, Melvin Watkins will be entering his 40th season in coaching when the 2017-18 season begins. It’s that experience and his accomplishments as a recruiter that have landed him on this list.

After Watkins joined Arkansas, his recruiting prowess was immediately felt. The Razorbacks’ class was ranked 18th in the country in 2013. The following season, Watkins helped Arkansas end its six-year NCAA Tournament drought. Among Watkins’ Razorback recruits were Bobby Portis, who was the 2014-15 AP SEC Player of the Year. Portis then went on to become the 12th Arkansas player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft.

All the success has earned Watkins a total compensation of $376,981. Watkins’ base salary is $373,481 and he also received non-university compensation of $3,500 to reach the total.

While the Razorbacks failed to reach the Sweet 16 last season, Watkins’ recruitment and player development should have Arkansas in competition for more similar berths for years to come.

Watkins is just the first of several SEC coaches on this list, a trait that he has in common with the next coach.