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Kansas, Missouri College Coaches Pocket Big NCAA Tournament Bonuses

Jeff and Laura Jacobsen
/
Kansas Athletics

Coming out of the weekend, lots of fans in Lawrence and Manhattan were thrilled as their basketball teams advanced in the NCAA tournament.

But that also means some coaches are putting extra money in their pockets.

Most big-time college coaches have lucrative bonuses in their contracts.

Kansas State University's Bruce Weber has already done very well. He has earned an additional $344,000 dollars for making the Sweet 16, according to his contract, which calls for a 16 percent bonus on top of his $2.15 million salary.

Credit Kansas State Athletics
K-State's head basketball coach Bruce Weber has already earned an extra $344,000 for making the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.

But Weber's bonus could really balloon if he continues to win. Should he beat Kentucky Thursday in Atlanta to reach the Elite Eight, Weber would earn an additional $430,000. A trip to the Final Four nets him an extra $516,000.

Bill Self at the University of Kansas is already among the best-paid college coaches in America. He made $4.9 million this year, according to USA Today.

Still, he has already pocketed $75,000 for winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament championships.

Self will have to advance to the Final Four to earn more bonus money. If he reaches San Antonio, Self will earn an extra $150,000. A national championship nets him an additional $200,000.

Gregg Marshall, the head coach at Wichita State, has also added to his $3 million salary. He earned a total of $91,000 in bonuses—$20,000 for having a winning conference record, $35,000 winning more than 20 games and $36,000 appearing in the NCAA tournament. The Shockers lost to Marshall University in the first round Saturday.

The University of Missouri's Cuonzo Martin got knocked out in the first round by Florida State, but he still made an extra $25,000 for making the tournament. His base salary is $2.7 million a year.

Sam covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service. Before joining the station in August 2014 he covered health and education for KCPT.