The 2025-2026 basketball season came to an end without SEC representation in the national championship game. Still, it was a strong season for the conference, with 10 teams making the NCAA tournament, Auburn winning the NIT, and Oklahoma reaching the finals of the Crown Basketball Challenge.
The SEC is home to some of the best coaches in college basketball, as reflected in the salaries paid out. According to the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coach salary database, Arkansas’ John Calipari is the third-highest-paid coach in college basketball behind Bill Self of Kansas and Dan Hurley at UConn. Five of the 10 highest-paid coaches are from the SEC, and eight of the top 20.
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In the SEC, it certainly just means more.
The Big 12 is second, with three top-10 salaries and six in the top 20.
Oklahoma’s Porter Moser ranks 12th in the SEC in total salary. Texas A&M got the biggest bang for its buck with Bucky McMillan. He’s the 13th-highest-paid coach in the conference but led the Aggies to an 11-7 record in the SEC, which tied for fourth place.
Ole Miss‘ Chris Beard represented the worst value in the conference. He’s the fourth-highest-paid coach in the SEC, and the Rebels finished tied for 14th in the conference standings.
1. John Calipari, Arkansas
Feb 28, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari coaches against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
Total Salary: $7,750,000
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Buyout: $22,203,125
2025-2026 Record: 28-9, 13-5 SEC (t-2nd in the SEC)
2. Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes during a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game between Tennessee and Michigan at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026.
Total Salary: $6,200,000
Buyout: $12,250,000
2025-2026 Record: 25-12, 17-11 (t-4th in the SEC)
3. Todd Golden, Florida
Total Salary: $6,000,000
Buyout: $34,000,000
2025-2026 Record: 27-8, 16-2 (1st in the SEC)
4. Chris Beard, Ole Miss
Mississippi men’s basketball coach Chris Beard reacts toward an official during his team’s game against Mississippi State at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Total Salary: $6,000,000
Buyout: $23,625,000
2025-2026 Record: 15-20, 4-14 (t-14th in the SEC)
5. Nate Oats, Alabama
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 27: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Total Salary: $5,510,000
Buyout: $26,913,440
2025-2026 Record: 25-10, 13-5 (t-2nd in the SEC)
6. Mark Pope, Kentucky
Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Chris Beard looks on as Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope yells to his players during the second half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Total Salary: $5,250,000
Buyout: $12,937,500
2025-2026 Record: 22-14, 10-8 (t-7th in the SEC)
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7. Sean Miller, Texas
Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller talks with a referee Thursday, March 26, 2026, during a Sweet 16 game against the Purdue Boilermakers at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
Total Salary: $5,055,000
Buyout: $22,950,000
2025-2026 Record: 21-15, 9-9 (10th in the SEC)
8. Chris Jans, Mississippi State
Mississippi State coach Chris Jans works the sideline during their 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament game against Auburn at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Total Salary: $4,400,000
Buyout: $12,000,000
2025-2026 Record: 13-19, 5-13 (13th in the SEC)
9. Dennis Gates, Missouri
Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates reacts during the first half against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Total Salary: $4,200,000
Buyout: $13,020,833
2025-2026 Record: 20-13, 10-8 (t-7th in the SEC)
10. Lamont Paris, South Carolina
Mar 11, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris watches his team against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Total Salary: $4,000,000
Buyout: $12,025,000
2025-2026 Record: 13-19, 4-14 (t-14th in the SEC)
11. Michael White, Georgia
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – MARCH 19: Head coach Mike White of the Georgia Bulldogs looks on during the second half against the Saint Louis Billikens in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Total Salary: $3,910,000
Buyout: $16,031,875
2025-2026 Record: 22-11, 10-8 (t-7th in the SEC)
12. Porter Moser, Oklahoma
Oklahoma head menÕs basketball coach Porter Moser reacts in the second half of the menÕs college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Ole Miss at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Saturday Jan. 3, 2026.
Total Salary: $3,400,000
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Buyout: $6,075,000
2025-2026 Record: 21-16, 7-11 (t-11th in the SEC)
13. Bucky McMillan, Texas A&M
Mar 21, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Bucky McMillan stands on the sidelines during the second half against the Houston Cougars in a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Total Salary: $3,075,000
Buyout: $10,400,000
2025-2026 Record: 22-12, 11-7 (t-4th in the SEC)
14. Steven Pearl, Auburn
Auburn Tigers head coach Steven Pearl watches the game from the sidelines Sunday, April 5, 2026, during the NIT men’s basketball championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Total Salary: $3,000,000
Buyout: $6,125,000
2025-2026 Record: 22-16, 7-11 (t-11th in the SEC)
15. Matt McMahon, LSU
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Head coach Matt McMahon of the LSU Tigers reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Total Salary: $2,905,000
Buyout: $8,020,000
2025-2026 Record: 15-17, 3-15 (16th in the SEC)
16. Mark Byington, Vanderbilt
Mar 15, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Mark Byington yells instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half during the men’s SEC Conference Tournament Championship at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Salaries from private schools aren’t subject to freedom of information requests and were not available at the time of publication to USA TODAY Sports.
2025-2026 Record: 27-9, 11-7 (t-4th in the SEC)
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Which SEC Men’s Basketball program got the most out of their coach?
