Florida raises Todd Golden’s salary to $6M annually with extension after national title
Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden has received a major pay raise and contract extension following the Gators’ recent national championship victory. The University of Florida announced Tuesday that Golden signed a six-year, \$40.5 million extension that boosts his annual salary to \$6 million beginning April 16, 2025. This new deal not only reflects his recent success but also solidifies the university’s long-term commitment to the 39-year-old coach.
Golden’s new agreement adds one year to his previous contract and extends his tenure through the 2030-31 season. The raise represents a significant increase from the two-year extension he signed in March 2024, which raised his average annual salary to \$4.1 million. The latest deal vaults him from 12th to second among Southeastern Conference (SEC) coaches in terms of salary, trailing only Arkansas’ John Calipari, who earns \$8 million annually.
“Todd has done an incredible job getting Florida men’s basketball back where it belongs,” said athletic director Scott Stricklin. “We believed in his vision, his competitive nature and his modern approach to the game back in 2022, and he has validated that belief in a relatively short time and helped create memories of a lifetime for another generation of Gator fans.”
Golden’s contract includes an annual \$300,000 raise, and a number of perks: a \$500,000 signing bonus, a \$500,000 annual longevity incentive, and a \$60,000 annual expense account. He will also receive \$70,000 annually in travel allowance for use of the university’s athletic association plane and fringe benefits valued at \$62,000.
Incentives further enhance Golden’s compensation package. He can earn \$100,000 for winning the SEC regular-season title, \$50,000 for capturing the SEC Tournament crown, \$100,000 for reaching the NCAA Tournament, and \$50,000 for every NCAA Tournament game victory. These performance bonuses underscore Florida’s focus on sustained excellence under Golden’s leadership.
The contract is nearly fully guaranteed, with Florida on the hook for 85% of the remaining value should it fire Golden without cause. The buyout for Golden to leave Gainesville is substantial: \$16 million next season, decreasing to \$11 million in 2026-27, \$4 million in 2027-28, \$3 million in 2028-29, \$2 million in 2029-30, and \$1 million in the final year. However, if he opts to leave for an NBA opportunity, the buyout is significantly less — starting at \$3 million in 2025-26 and dropping to \$1 million by 2028-29.
Golden, who began his head coaching career at San Francisco in 2019 after serving as an assistant at Auburn under Bruce Pearl, has rapidly ascended the coaching ranks. He now sits fifth among active coaches with national championships, behind Kansas’ Bill Self, Calipari, UConn’s Dan Hurley, and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.
“As we’ve shown during our time in Gainesville, the University of Florida is an institution that has the resources, support, and people in place to compete and win national championships,” Golden said in a statement. “This extension reflects our shared commitment to continuing that pursuit at the highest level.”
Golden’s extension marks a strong show of faith from Florida’s administration and a clear sign that the university is willing to invest heavily in basketball success. With a national title already under his belt and a program on the rise, Golden’s next challenge will be sustaining that momentum as one of college basketball’s highest-paid coaches.
