New Arizona women’s basketball coach Becky Burke, who was introduced to local media Friday, will make approximately a total of $3.5 million in base pay and pay from “additional duties” with opportunities for additional income based on incentives over a five-year period, as noted in contract terms released by the university Saturday.
Burke will make $325,000 in base pay in the first two years of her contract, $350,000 in the third year, $375,000 in the fourth year and $400,000 in the fifth year. Listed as “other compensation” are “additional duties comp” of $350,000 annually.
She is also permitted to have income from a camp, a retention bonus of $100,000 if still employed after March 31, 2028 and a signing bonus of $25,000.
The contract must be approved by the Arizona Board of Regents.
Burke’s base pay at Buffalo was $250,000 annually with a maximum bonus of $307,000, as reported by USA Today after the 2023-24 season.
Burke’s predecessor Adia Barnes signed in 2021 a five-year contract with a base pay of $5.85 million plus bonuses.
Burke’s contract also includes the following incentive compensation:
Conference achievement:
o Regular season or conference tournament champion: $10,000
NCAA Tournament:
o NCAA appearance: $10,000
o Round of 32 appearance: $20,000
o Sweet 16 appearance: $25,000
o Elite Eight appearance: $30,000
o Final Four appearance: $40,000
o National champion: $50,000
Final national ranking (ESPN/USA Today):
o Top 10: $10,000
o Ranked 11–15: $5,000
Coach of the Year:
o Conference or National (AP, WBCA, or Naismith): $10,000
Academic incentives (limited to one incentive per category)
Academic Progress Rate (APR):
o Score 971–999: $10,000
o Score 1000: $15,000
Team GPA:
o 3.00–3.29: $15,000
o 3.30–3.68: $30,000
o 3.69 or above: $45,000
Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois made the comment Friday, “I think we are No. 1 in terms of assistant coaches salary pool” in the Big 12. Burke will have a pool of $900,000 for her staff, which is likely the same coaches she had at Buffalo other than Jacey Brooks, who was hired as Northern Illinois’ head coach.
The university will provide Burke a $600 monthly stipend for a car, tickets to Arizona sporting events and family travel for postseason games involving the women’s basketball team.
The school is paying Buffalo $300,000 for Burke’s buyout “as a business expense,” according to the contract.
If Arizona fires Burke without cause, it owes her 60 percent of the remaining base pay and salary from other duties.
If Burke leaves Arizona for another job before the end of her contract, she owes Arizona 60 percent of what is remaining on her contract with base pay and money from other duties.
Burke is unable take a position as a coach or analyst at another Big 12 program during the five-year term of the agreement or for one year after termination.
Recommended for you
