Pat Kelsey gets contract extension for leading Louisville basketball to March Madness
For leading Louisville basketball to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, coach Pat Kelsey on Sunday received an automatic one-year contract extension and, at the very least, a $50,000 bonus.
In Year 1 of the Kelsey era, the Cardinals (27-7) pulled off the largest season-to-season turnaround in program history and reached the ACC Tournament championship game for the first time since joining the conference in 2014. Earning a No. 8 seed to March Madness, they drew No. 9 Creighton in the first round of the South regional on Thursday at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Kelsey's 27 victories are the most by a first-year U of L coach. The late Hall of Famer Denny Crum held the record for decades with 26 in 1971-72.
For orchestrating it all, starting from scratch after every scholarship player from Kenny Payne's final team hit the NCAA transfer portal, Kelsey was crowned ACC Coach of the Year; for which he received a $25,000 bonus.
In addition to that bonus and the one he got for reaching the NCAA Tournament, the 49-year-old Cincinnati native is also guaranteed $125,000 to disperse among his staff.
Here's what to know:
Pat Kelsey's Louisville basketball salary
Kelsey is getting paid $2,367,418 for the 2024-25 season. With this extension, his deal now runs through March 15, 2030.
Per a copy of his contract obtained by The Courier Journal, his salary will remain the same "unless otherwise negotiated" with U of L.
Kelsey's salary ranked 58th nationally in 2024-25 — one spot behind Oklahoma State's Steve Lutz ($2,400,000), one spot ahead of Utah's Craig Smith ($2,300,000) — and ninth in the ACC, according to a USA TODAY Sports database published Thursday.
For comparison's sake: Payne earned a base salary of $3.35 million and is receiving monthly severance payments of $201,388.88 through March 31, 2027.
What bonuses are on the table for Pat Kelsey with Louisville basketball in the NCAA Tournament?
Here's a look at the bonuses Kelsey could receive if Louisville makes a deep run in March Madness:
Note: Kelsey's NCAA Tournament bonuses are not cumulative.
- If Louisville reaches the Round of 32: $100,000
- If Louisville reaches the Sweet 16: $150,000
- If Louisville reaches the Elite Eight: $200,000
- If Louisville reaches the Final Four: $250,000
- If Louisville wins the national championship: $500,000
If the Cards advance to the Sweet 16, Kelsey's staff bonus pool will increase to $250,000. If they reach the Final Four, he'll get $350,000 to share.
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Pat Kelsey contract extension Louisville basketball in NCAA Tournament
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