How much do college basketball officials make

How Much Do NCAA Referees Make? (Quick Answer)

Referees are a huge part of sports. While their main objective is to regulate the game, the ref’s goal is to go relatively unnoticed in their efforts to control the pace and rules of the game. We all know, however, that sometimes they have to make tough calls that could swing the game one way or the other. 

For all of that responsibility, including staying in shape in order to keep up with these world-class athletes, they must be compensated pretty nicely right? 

An NCAA basketball referee is compensated pretty nicely for their efforts, although the pay range for every working official varies between $10,000 to over $200,000 per season.

Why are the salaries so different, and what does their schedule look like to get such a hefty salary? We will cover all of that and more below.

Contents

• Breaking Down Referee Schedules
• Referee Pay Breakdown
• How Much Do Other Refs Make?
  • NCAA Football
  • NBA Referees
• Final Thoughts

Breaking Down Referee Schedules

An interesting aside on the referee lifestyle is that most of them have a full-time job on top of their officiating gigs. In a world where sports is everything, it is worthy of reminding yourself that these guys (and gals) usually come from another job to make some of the most crucial calls during a college basketball season. 

Sports Illustrated did a piece on legendary referee John Higgins and his enormous workload. At one point during the season, Higgins traveled 4,800 miles in three days while reffing three different games! In the piece, Higgins called himself a “professional traveler” and joked that the games he refs was the easy part of his job. Oh yeah, Higgins owns and operates two businesses on top of reffing.

In a roughly 5-month NCAA basketball season, most refs officiate between 70-100 games. That breaks down into up to 20 games per month! Referees make their own schedules meaning they can officiate as many (to an extent) or as few contests that they want. The only catch is that if you turn games down, you may get called less to officiate.

This makes referees independent contractors which means no benefits from the NCAA. If they hurt themselves or have to take time off from the sport, they are not compensated in any way. No pensions and definitely no health coverage if they go down on the job. Most referees use their full-time jobs as methods of retirement and health insurance and roll the dice out on the court.

Referee Pay Breakdown

While the top-tier refs make up to $2,000 for a regular-season game, their counterparts in the smaller conferences aren’t so lucky. The average salary for NCAA refs across the board is only $33,000, before taxes. It seems like a lot of hassle for that amount of money, but many in the business simply love it enough to make the sacrifices.

Referees in a small conference can still make up to $50,000 doing a better side gig than washing cars or delivering pizzas. Also, just because they aren’t playing or coaching, being assigned to a big game is a rush for the officials too.

Power conference refs – those in the ACC, Big East, SEC, Big 12, Pac 12, and Big 10 – can pull in up to $2,000 per game and free travel and hotel expenses. Their jobs are higher profile which leads to more scrutiny on the media and fans’ parts, but big time refs can’t complain about the pay.

If you are lucky enough to be selected to ref in the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament, you will get around $1,000 per game. NCAA Regional games will get you $1,400 a game and Final Four contests are worth about $2,000. 

How Much Do Other Refs Make?

NCAA Football

NCAA basketball is the second most popular college sport behind football, so you might be wondering how much their refs make. It is no secret the millions of dollars college football brings in each year, so even though their season is one third of an NCAA basketball season, the referees still do very well.

The averages are fairly similar, albeit the college football officials workload is significantly less. College football refs make between $11,000 and $300,000 per year. Newer officials in the power conferences can take home around $800 per game. Their travel and expenses are usually covered as well.  

NBA Referees

The life of an NBA ref is much different than a college hoops official. 

Reffing at the professional level is a full-time seven-month out of the year job. With 82-game seasons for all 30 NBA teams, not including preseason and the playoffs, an NBA referee could be on the road up to 25 days a month. You may be thinking, “I’ll take a seven month a year job!” The NBA schedule, however, is no joke and can take a huge toll on a referee’s body. 

Luckily they are compensated nicely. 

An entry-level NBA official makes $600 per game and can bring home around $250,000 a year. Once you move up, your pay increases. Senior officials can make up to a half-million dollars a year! You also get ranking bonuses as a ref, based on your performances throughout the year. Essentially, if you are good at your job, you get paid more on top of your per-game salary. Read more from our NBA refs salary article.

Also Read: How to Become an NBA Referee in 9 Steps

Below are some other referee salary numbers in case you are curious:

• Major League Baseball umpires: Approximately $300,000/year
• NFL referees: Approximately $205,000/year
• NHL referees: Approximately $275,000/year

Final Thoughts

While being a referee has plenty of drawbacks – the scrutiny and harassment you can get on a nightly basis jumps out first – you are being compensated quite nicely for your troubles.

By design, referees are behind the scenes as much as possible. It makes what they do a mystery, especially in NCAA basketball. They seem to just show up out of nowhere, officiate the game, and then disappear as fast as they came. No publicity, no pre and post-game press conferences. Nothing. Hopefully you learn a bit more about their schedules and salary from this piece.

Have you ever known a big-time college or professional referee? What did they have to say about their schedules and pay? Let us know in the comments section below!

How Much Do NBA Refs Make? – Basketball Officials' Salaries

NBA referees are arguably the best officials in the world, but their pay pales in comparison to that of top-flight pro players.

Where elite NBA players can make up to $50 million annually, pro basketball officials are estimated to earn between $200,000-550,000 per year, plus travel reimbursements and a courtside seat for games.

But getting to the NBA is hard as there are thousands of basketball referees across North America and across the planet, so the chances of ever reaching the top end of the salary bracket are slim.

From the big leagues to lower levels, here’s a breakdown of how basketball officials are compensated.

There are about 80 on-court officials in the NBA, and as many as three work each of the 1,230 regular-season games and playoffs.

The lead official is the crew chief, and he or she is joined by two umpires that keep control of the game.

Veteran NBA crew chiefs make upwards of $550,000 per year — paid out to about $7,000 per game over about 80 games per regular season.

The best of the best earn playoff assignments, which could net them an additional $9,000 per game, and if they are chosen for NBA Finals games that pay could jump by threefolds.

Less experienced NBA umpires can still make six figures but more like $3,000 per game.

These officials still receive first-class travel arrangements, hotel reimbursements and per diem. Plus they still get to be on the floor for NBA games.

Officials have been covered by a union, the NBA Referees Association (NBRA), since 1973.

In 2017, the union expanded to cover officials of the NBA G League and WNBA.

WNBA officials make about $500 per game and nearly $200,000 per season. G League officials make less than that.

The NBA also relies on replay, which means it needs officials at its video operations room in Secaucus, New Jersey each night.

Those operators make about $21 per hour, according to Glassdoor.

The NBA is the majors, but where do the pros pull their talent from?

College, of course.

Officials of college games are not covered by unions but still can make more than six figures — around $2,500 per game in major conferences like the Big East, Big Ten or Big XII — according to Sapling.

Though college basketball plays far fewer games than the pros do, which means the earning potential is less in college even though the per-game cost can be more.

The median income for a college basketball official is about $36,000, with food and travel expenses reimbursed, which is a nice income supplement for those who officiate college or professional football games in the fall — former NFL referee and current CBS commentator Gene Steratore and current NFL official Bill Vinovich each have officiated college basketball games during their offseason.

Those who are chosen to officiate NCAA Tournament games can make $1,000 per game more, or $2,000 per game if they reach the Final Four.

There are thousands of girls’ and boys’ basketball games played every day, including high school, AAU, youth and even adult men’s leagues. These games need officials too as tempers flare up and the sport doesn’t police itself.

For high school games the pay is less, but still can be lucrative, particularly as a side job on nights and weekends.

Officials for AAU games can make $70 apiece. High-end high school refs can make between $40-$60 per game, according to Dunkorthree.com, and on weekends could officiate two or more games per day

Youth referees can make a little less than high-school refs, roughly $30 per game, but again can work multiple games per day to boost their earnings.

So now you know how much basketball officials make, why not find out how much NHL referees make too?

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Top 15 Highest Paid College Basketball Coaches

Like any other sport, the success or failure of a college basketball team depends on the quality of its coach. But there is no good coach without a good salary. In this article, we take a look at the 15 highest paid college basketball coaches, their teams, and their salary.

Are college basketball coaches well paid?

With the salaries of smaller institutions, the average salary for trainers is likely to be less than $100,000.

However, the near-extraordinary salaries of the top 40 NCAA organizations, each of which pay their head basketball coaches $1 million or more, skew the average even higher.

While millions of dollars in salaries are prevalent in professional sports, they are uncommon in higher education, where additional teachers and professors earn between $20,000 and $126,000 a year.

How much do college basketball coaches earn?

As of 2019, the typical compensation for coaches at colleges and universities is $46,180, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

On the other hand, Division I basketball coaches can earn significantly more, with some earning six and seven figures.

Read: 15 highest paid TV stars in 2022 | Updated

Why are college basketball coaches paid so much?

Because "star coaches" attract the best players. Student clubs, unlike professional clubs, cannot lure talented players with promises of big salaries. Instead, athletes choose schools based on the availability of luxurious stadiums and other facilities, as well as the availability of coaches with experience in professional leagues.

Who is the highest paid female college basketball coach?

Jeno Auriemma, head coach of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, is the highest paid women's basketball coach in college.

He recently extended his contract until the 2024-25 season.

Auriemma's base salary will be $600,000 per annum with an additional $2.2 million speaking, consulting and media outreach remuneration in 2020 with $21-100,000 annual increase.

Who are the highest paid college basketball coaches?

Here is a list of the 15 highest paid college basketball coaches.

• # 1 John Calipari
• # 2 Mike Kshizhevski
• # 3 Mick Cronin
• # 4 Rick Barnes
• # 5 Chris Bird
• # 6 Jay Wright
• # 7 Bob Uzzo
• # 8 ROI ROI WI
• # 9 Chris Mark
• # 10 Bill Selfh
• # 11 Bob Haggins
• # 12 Bazz Williams
• # 13 Bruce Perl
• # 14 Larry Kristkovyak
• # 15 Jami Dixon

Calipari signed a "lifetime" contract with Kentucky in April 2019year, which included a 10-year extension of coaching and a lifetime paid post as ambassador upon retirement.

After Massachusetts and Memphis reached the Final Four in 1996 and 2009, Calipari led Kentucky to four Final Fours, including the 2012 championship.

Calipari was one of the first coaches to promote the "one-ready" philosophy by signing famous players who would leave the NBA after one season.

Kentucky has 25 first-round NBA drafters supervised by Calipari from 2002 to 2018.

He receives a total of $8,158,000 for each season.

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#2 Mike Krzyzewski:

Earning a seasonal total salary of $7,256,924 Krzyzewski (commonly known as Coach K), he has been a coach at Duke since 1980. He is now the dean of the varsity basketball club.

The Blue Devils have won five national championships and 12 Finals four under Coach K.

He has over 1,000 wins and is the best coach in men's basketball history I. Krzyzewski said hosting the 2022 season will be his last at Duke. and that he would retire at the end of the season.

#3 Mick Cronin:

After a hugely successful stint in Cincinnati, Cronin took up a position at UCLA in 2019year, earning a total salary of $5,500,000.

In his 13 seasons with him as a Bearcats coach, he played nine games in the NCAA Tournament.

Cronin received a $300,000 bonus. At 47, he became the fourteenth head coach of the UCLA Bruins. Cronin, then aged 365, has the most NCAA Division I wins (50) of any current coach under 50 at the time.

No. 4. Rick Barnes:

Earning a total salary of 4,700,000 19$87K, Barnes has been head coach since XNUMX. Places where he has been head coach include George Mason, Providence, Clemson, Texas, and Tennessee.

He played 24 times in the NCAA Tournament, including a Final Four with Texas in 2003.

Tennessee will return to the NCAA Tournament this year, so he could add another performance to his resume.

#5 Chris Beard:

Earning a total salary of $4,443,000 2016 2019, Bird has been the head coach of Texas Tech since 2019. In XNUMX, his team finished second in Elite Eight.

His bonus has grown to $500,000.

On April 4.5, 29, he signed a six-year contract worth over $2019 million in a season, making him the fifth-greatest college basketball coach in the US.

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#6 Jay Wright:

With a total salary of $4,410,304, Wright, who is known for his impeccable backstage costumes, has been in Villanova since 2009, leading the Wildcats to the 2009 National Title and the 2016 Final Four.

Wildcats claimed at least a share of the regular season title for the third straight season with an 11-4 conference record, sealing it with a win over Creighton on March 3, 2022.

#7 Bob Izzo:

With a total salary of $4,191,070, Izzo, the longest-serving Big Ten coach, has a long history of success with the Spartans.

He won the 2000 National Championship and led Michigan State to eight Final Four appearances. Izzo's bonuses rose to $600,000.

He also holds the record for most Big Ten tournament titles (six).

Izzo has the second most Big Ten wins in history, behind only Bob Knight (311 as of 2022).

#8 Roy Williams:

With a total of $4,102,409, Williams, who played for the Tar Heels and worked as an assistant to renowned coach Dean Smith, left an indelible mark on the program.

Williams moved to North Carolina in 2003 after a long career in Kansas where he led the Jayhawks to two runners-up finishes.

With Heels, the coach has won three national championships. Williams bonuses rose to $1,024,617.

#9 Chris Mark:

Mack has a seven-year contract that pays about $4 million a year to become the next head coach of the University of Louisville on March 27, 2018.

Chris Louisville's basketball team was No. 1 in the nation for two weeks in December 1st before losing three of their next five games.

He receives a total salary of $4,067,494 and his bonuses have reached $475,000.

#10 Bill Self:

Self is currently on a salary of $3,985,857 and has been a head coach at Kansas since 2003 and has made great strides.

Jayhawks won the National Championship in 2008 and reached the Final Four in 2012 and 2018. Under Self, Kansas hosted the NCAA Tournament every year.

On April 2, 2021, Self signed a lifetime agreement with Kansas. After the first five years, an additional year will automatically be added to the contract, and this will continue until he retires or dies.

#11 Bob Huggins:

Earning a total salary of $3,950,000, Huggins, nicknamed "Huggy Bear", is one of ten head coaches in history with 800 or more victories.

He led Cincinnati to 14 NCAA tournament appearances between 1989 and 2005, including a Final Four appearance in 1992.

Huggins went to West Virginia after one season in Kansas. Since then, he will lead the climbers to the 10th NCAA Tournament this year.

#12 Buzz Williams:

Williams receives a seasonal salary of $3,843,182.

After successful stints with Marquette and Virginia Tech, Williams moved to Texas A&M in 2019.

In his 13 years as a head coach, he has been to eight NCAA Tournaments. Williams left Virginia Tech on April 3, 2019 to take the same position at Texas A&M.

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#13 Bruce Pearl:

Currently earning a total salary of $3,840,366, Pearl is at the Auburn following a three-year suspension from the NCAA that left him unable to coach. Under his leadership, the Tigers played in the NCAA Tournament in both seasons.

He is the second fastest coach in history to reach 300 wins in just 382 games.

In the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Pearl's Auburn slightly upset No. 12 New Mexico 78-77.

Auburn then defeated No. 4 seeded Kansas 89-75 to make the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 16 years.

#14 Larry Kristkowiak:

Kristkowiak earns a seasonal wage of $3,762,876.

Since 2011, the former NBA player has traveled to Utah twice for the NCAA tournaments.

Kristkowiak was nominated for the 2013 National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

In Troy, Michigan on June 21, 2018, Kristkowiak was inducted into the Class of 2018 in the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.

However, he was fired from Utah.

#15 Jamie Dixon:

Dixon earns a seasonal salary of $3,423,401.

After a successful stint at Pitt, Dixon returned to his alma mater, TCU, in 2016. He accompanied the Horned Frogs to the NCAA Tournament and the NIT Championship, and the Panthers to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances over 13 seasons.

For the first time in 20 years, the school hosted the NCAA Tournament in 2017–18. Dixon led them to their third straight season with 20 wins the following season.

What is the salary of trainer K?

Coach K earned over $7 million in 2018. His salary at Duke matches his storied career. While exact numbers are unknown, Mike Krzyzewski, American College Basketball Player Coach has a net worth of $45 million and an annual salary of $9.7 million.

This makes him the highest paid coach in basketball.

What is John Calipari's salary?

John Calipari is one of the highest paid basketball coaches in 2021. John Calipari's salary is $8 million following a 10-year, $86 million contract extension in June 2019.

He currently coaches the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

How much is Tom Izzo's salary?

Tom Izzo's salary is $3 million per season, making him one of the highest paid basketball coaches in the world. He is currently the head coach of the Michigan State University NCAA men's college basketball team.

Celebrity Net Worth believes he has earned $13 million. He currently ranks among the top Division I head coaches in terms of total salary this year. Tom Izzo's base salary is roughly $436,727, but the extra income is $3. 09 million.

Frequently asked questions about the highest paid college basketball coaches

What is the average salary of a college basketball coach?

The average salary for a college basketball coach is $100,000 considering the wide range of coaches who receive low salaries. However, quite a few people receive more than a million annually.

Who is the highest paid college basketball coach?

Coach John Calipari of Kentucky is currently the highest paid coach with a total salary of $8,158,000 per season.

Which school pays the most for a basketball coach?

Kentucky currently pays coaches the most, paying coach John Calipari $8,158,000 each season. However, in terms of bonuses, Tennessee is the highest paid, paying its coach Rick Barnes $1,000,000 in bonuses every season.

Are college basketball coaches paid by the hour?

College basketball coaches are paid seasonally. However, the season total can be divided to find the hourly equivalent.

How much does a women's college basketball coach earn?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a women's college basketball coach is $37,085.

Conclusion

As players come and go, high-profile coaches such as Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Michigan State's Tom Izzo are often the most famous programs.

While the top names on the list of the highest paid college basketball coaches are well known, some of the other names on this list will surprise you.

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How Much Do College Basketball Coaches Earn? (Salary, frequently asked questions)

How much do college basketball coaches earn? College basketball coaches are always in high demand in the United States.

This job is much more attractive than it looks.

As a college basketball coach, you are responsible for improving the ability of the students in your care and building their confidence to play basketball.

You can earn between $70,000 and $15,000 a year as a college basketball coach.

So in this article we will discuss the role of a basketball coach, the responsibilities and how to become a basketball coach.

Contents

A college basketball coach is a person who guides a college basketball team on how to play basketball effectively.

These professionals teach students how to play basketball properly, develop winning strategies for competitions, and build team members' confidence and skills.

To be successful in this job, basketball coaches must have excellent communication skills, outstanding leadership skills, and a good understanding of basketball.