Details of contract extension for Colorado State basketball coach Niko Medved

Kevin Lytle, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·4 min read
Colorado State men's basketball head coach Niko Medved smiles during the second half against Wyoming at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. on Feb. 23, 2022.
Colorado State men's basketball head coach Niko Medved smiles during the second half against Wyoming at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo. on Feb. 23, 2022.

The big money schools were bound to start calling soon.

Georgia. Missouri. LSU. All have open men's basketball head coaching positions as of March 13.

Fans and some reporters were already throwing out Niko Medved's name as a potential high-major hire.

Not so fast, said Colorado State and Medved.

The 48-year-old has once again signed an extension with the Rams. This one includes a major pay bump, more years and more money for his assistants.

This new contract runs through the 2028-29 season, with the final two years of the deal options that either party can exercise.

Here are the most important details of Medved's newest contract:

Niko Medved yearly salary

Here is Medved’s annual base salary for the duration of the contract, which was at $750,000 before the new extension. Now he's set to be a million-dollar man.

  • April 1, 2022-June 30,2022 - $1.1 million

  • July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 - $1.1 million

  • July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 - $1.1 million

  • July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025 - $1.15 million

  • July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026 - $1.2 million

  • July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 - $1.25 million

  • July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028* - $1.3 million

  • July 1, 2028-June 30, 2029* - $1.3 million

*If the additional years are exercised by either party.

Full context: CSU basketball coach Niko Medved gets contract extension, raise as Rams return to NCAA Tournament

Bonus for NCAA Tournaments, more

The contract includes many bonuses based on success:

  • Win 20 or more games against Division I opponents: $40,000

  • Win either the conference regular season or tournament championship: $75,000

  • Finish second or third in the conference regular season standings: $25,000

  • Qualify for the NCAA Tournament: $100,000

  • Qualify for the NIT: $30,000

  • Advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament: $100,000

  • Advance to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament: $100,000

  • Advance to the Final 4 of the NCAA Tournament: $125,000

  • Win the NCAA Tournament: $200,000

CSU basketball NCAA Tournament central: What to know about Rams in March Madness

CSU assistant coaches salary pool

The new deal includes a sizeable boost in the assistant coaches' salary pool, which can help in hiring good assistants and then retaining them.

Medved signed an extension after last year but asked only for more years and more pay for his assistants. This one provides another boost.

The assistant pool goes from $782,000 to $875,000.

CSU contracts: Jay Norvell contract details: Salary, bonus, buyout info for new CSU football head coach

Niko Medved buyout information

If Medved were to terminate the contract — leave for another job, for instance — he would owe 33% of the remaining base salary at the time of his departure. The previous contract had him owing 25% of remaining base salary.

If CSU were to fire Medved without just cause, Medved would be owed 100% of the remaining base salary. The amount owed by CSU could be reduced by Medved finding another coaching job.

CSU’s success under Medved

The Rams have been on a rapid upward trajectory since Medved took over for Larry Eustachy before the 2018-19 season. CSU went 11-21 the season before Medved’s arrival, 12-20 in Medved’s first season, 20-12 in 2019-20 and 20-8 last season.

CSU made the semifinals of the NIT last season before officially making the NCAA Tournament in 2022 during his fourth season in charge.

Medved is 77-45 at CSU after nearly four full seasons. He's in his ninth season overall as a head coach with a career record of 156-132.

More: Colorado State basketball earns No. 6 seed in NCAA Tournament

Where Niko Medved's salary ranks among Mountain West coaches

Medved is now into the upper tier of pay in the Mountain West with his $1.1 million for the next three seasons before it rises again.

  • Steve Alford (Nevada): $1,403,500, per USA TODAY

  • Brian Dutcher (San Diego State): $1.31 million average (will be $1.53 by last season in 2025-26), per San Diego Union Tribune

  • Medved: $1.1 million for next three seasons before rising as high as $1.3 by 2028

  • Ryan Odum (Utah State): $4 million over 5 years (average of $800,000 per year), per Deseret News

  • Richard Pitino (New Mexico): $775,000 this season but will rise to $800,000, per Albuquerque Journal

  • Leon Rice (Boise State): $784,197, per Idaho Press Tribune

  • Kevin Kruger (UNLV): $770,000, per The Athletic

  • Tim Miles (San Jose State): $700,000, per McFeely Blog

  • Justin Hutson (Fresno State): $500,000, per San Diego Union Tribune

  • Jeff Linder (Wyoming): $225,000 base, WyomingNews.com

  • Joe Scott (Air Force): N/A

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This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Where Niko Medved salary ranks among Mountain West basketball coaches