How much can UK basketball coach Mark Pope make during March Madness?

As Mark Pope begins his second postseason as head coach of Kentucky men’s basketball, The Courier Journal analyzed the value of his contract and performance incentives ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

Pope earned an automatic one-year extension for leading UK to a Sweet 16 last season. His current deal with the Wildcats runs through March 31, 2030. Pope’s base salary remains $400,000, with the majority of his annual compensation stemming from media and endorsement obligations (this media and endorsement number sits at $4.85 million in 2025-26 and will increase by $250,000 annually through 2029-30.) His total salary for the current contract year, before any postseason incentives, is $5.25 million.

UK also provides Pope with “standard employee benefits,” including a health plan, life insurance, dental insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and long-term disability, as well as a vacation time subject to athletics director approval. The university pays for a membership at a “mutually agreed upon country club,” up to 30 hours per contract year of personal air travel and the choice of two cars or an automobile stipend. And UK contributes 10% of Pope’s annual salary to a retirement plan, while Pope contributes 5%.

Pope is allowed to pursue outside activities authorized by the university and must provide a written detailed account to UK’s president and AD at least once a year. He can also conduct basketball camps using UK’s facilities.

Additionally, Pope gets “20 prime, lower-level tickets” for every men’s basketball home game, 10 tickets for each away and postseason tournament game, eight tickets for each football home game and four tickets for each women’s basketball home game.

If UK were to fire Pope without cause, it would owe him 75% of the base salary and media and endorsements money “for the remainder of the unexpired term.” If it were to fire him on April 1, assuming Kentucky didn’t advance to the Sweet 16 again and earn him another automatic one-year extension, UK would owe him approximately $17.625 million (75% of the $23.5 million left on his contract) paid monthly. There is a section of Pope’s contract, though, that states he has a duty to seek employment to mitigate the university’s obligation.

If Pope were to leave under the same set of circumstances while Mitch Barnhart is still employed as Kentucky’s athletics director, Pope would owe UK $7.755 million (33%). Barnhart recently announced he will retire in June after 24 years at UK. If Pope were to give notice of termination after Barnhart’s retirement, Pope would only owe 20%, or $4.7 million.

Mark Pope postseason bonuses for Kentucky basketball

Bonuses earned are bolded.

SEC regular-season championship (or share): $100,000
SEC Tournament championship victory: $50,000
Academic progress rate (minimum 0.975 academic progress rates in any academic year): $25,000
Team GPA (team GPA 3.0 for Fall and Spring): $25,000

The following postseason bonuses are not cumulative.

NCAA Sweet 16 participation: $50,000
NCAA Elite Eight participation: $100,000
NCAA Final Four participation: $250,000
NCAA Championship: $500,000

Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her “Full-court Press” newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports’ biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mark Pope contract, bonuses for Kentucky basketball March Madness wins

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