Pitino Was Highest Paid Coach In Tournament

Louisville's Rick Pitino is making $7.5 million this season, according to a USA TODAY analysis of contracts and other compensation documents. dwarfing the $85,000 of Northern Colorado's B.J. Hill.

Pitino's compensation — nearly 90 times more than Hill's — is boosted by a $3.6 million bonus for completing three years of his contract.

Among the 33 coaches whose pay USA TODAY has tracked the last two seasons, the average pay was up 11% to $1.7 million, not including bonuses averaging up to $390,000.

Kentucky's John Calipari will make $3.9 million this year, with another $650,000 in tournament bonus money available. Virginia Commonwealth's Shaka Smart will make $424,000, with about $257,000 in possible tournament bonuses.