Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has become one of the most popular coaches in the country over this NCAA Tournament. With his team just two wins away from an historic national title, he's been the subject of numerous rumors linking him to the vacant North Carolina head coaching job. But today, he made it clear where he stands - once and for all.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Lloyd has signed a new contract at Arizona, tying him to the organization through the end of the decade. It's a five-year deal that raises his salary from around $5 million to an average of $7.5 million over the life of the deal, with "significant bonuses" and a larger staff salary pool to boot. His buyout will also increase from $9 million.
"Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has agreed to a new deal with the school, he announced. Arizona’s new five-year deal with Lloyd will make him one of the five highest paid coaches in college basketball..." Thamel wrote.
"Per ESPN sources, Lloyd’s deal will start in 2026-27 at nearly $7.2 million and will average $7.5 million over the life of the deal. The deal also includes significant bonues and additional commitment to staff salary pool.
"The buyout is expected to remain significant both ways, as the deal is fully guaranteed. It was $9 million under the old deal and is expected to remain significant."
Lloyd's Rise
Tommy Lloyd had to pay his dues in the coaching ranks for literal decades before getting his first job as a head coach. After a brief playing basketball playing career overseas, Lloyd got his first coaching job at Gonzaga, rising from a mere administrative assistant to the top coach under Mark Few.
When Arizona finally came calling in 2021, Lloyd promptly turned the program into a powerhouse. The Wildcats won 88 games in his first three seasons, won two conference tournaments and two regular season titles while making the Sweet 16 twice in the final years of the Pac-12 Conference.
© Eakin Howard-Imagn Images.
Arizona's transition to the Big 12 in 2024 was a rough one at first as they finished outside the top-two in the conference for their first time under Lloyd's leadership. But they still reached the Sweet 16 regardless.
The 2025-26 season has been nothing short of spectacular though. A Big 12 regular season and tournament crown, a No. 1 seed and now their first trip to the Final Four since 2001.
That kind of sustained success with a top program obviously appeals to a mega-power like the University of North Carolina, who are similarly trying to return to the top of the basketball mountain.
But now that Lloyd is off the table, they need to set their sights elsewhere.
As for Arizona, they're two wins away from their first national title since 1997.
