As new school year begins, here is UK’s roster of coaches and how much money they make
Another school year of University of Kentucky athletics is upon us.
The 2023-24 UK sports year begins Thursday night as the Kentucky women’s soccer team hosts Eastern Kentucky at the Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
This will kick off a 10-month flurry of activity for UK’s varsity sports.
But who are the people leading these teams?
Some UK head coaches like John Calipari (men’s basketball) and Harry Mullins (rifle) are longtime fixtures. Others like Shelley Jaudon (women’s tennis), Bret Lundgaard (swimming and diving) and Gator Todd (men’s golf) are brand new.
With a new UK sports year about to begin, here’s a look at each head coach at Kentucky, and their histories, notable accomplishments and contract details.
Coaches are listed in alphabetical order sorted by last name.
Blair Bergmann
Sport: STUNT.
Bio: Bergmann is leading the charge for the newest varsity sport at Kentucky: STUNT — a head-to-head competition between two teams with a focus on the athletic and technical aspects of cheer — began competition in February 2022.
Bergmann — who cheered collegiately at Alabama — spent the 2022 season at UK as the interim head coach of the STUNT program. In July 2022, that interim tag was removed.
Notable events: The first victories in UK STUNT history came in March 2022 inside Memorial Coliseum against Ashland University (Ohio).
Last season: Despite a 3-14 overall record, UK finished as the runner-up to defending national champion California Baptist in the STUNT Division I National Championship.
Contract details: Bergmann’s contract with UK runs from July 2022 through June 2025.
For each contract year, Bergmann receives a base salary of $85,000.
Bergmann receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
If UK wins the national championship in STUNT, Bergmann would receive $5,000.
Golda Borst
Sport: Women’s golf.
Bio: A native of Sweden, Borst was hired as head coach by UK in the summer of 2010. She played college golf at Tennessee and was an assistant women’s golf coach at LSU prior to joining the Wildcats.
Notable events: With Borst as head coach, the Wildcats have earned nine NCAA regional appearances and eight team championships.
UK also reached the NCAA championship finals in 2021.
From an individual standpoint, current UK graduate student Jensen Castle had a breakthrough moment in August 2021 by winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Last season: The Wildcats won consecutive team championships, in addition to setting 11 school records (seven individual and four team records).
Both Castle and Laney Frye received All-America honors, the first ones for the program since 1989.
Contract details: During the early stages of that historic 2022-23 season, Kentucky and Borst announced a contract extension.
Borst’s new contract, which began in October 2022, will run through June 2026.
The contract calls for an annual base salary of $140,000.
Borst receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Borst’s contract also features several performance incentives.
▪ If UK wins an SEC regular-season or SEC Tournament championship, Borst would receive $20,000.
▪ If UK qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, Borst would receive $10,000.
▪ If UK reaches the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, Borst would receive $25,000.
▪ If UK reaches the NCAA Tournament semifinals, Borst would receive $30,000.
▪ If UK wins the NCAA championship in women’s golf, Borst would receive $35,000.
These incentives are not cumulative, and Borst is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
John Calipari
Sport: Men’s basketball.
Bio: Calipari was hired by Kentucky in late March 2009, following head coaching stops in both college basketball and the NBA.
Calipari’s one-and-done model of recruiting — which enjoyed its most notable success prior to the transfer portal era — was a driving force behind the strong start to Calipari’s tenure at UK, which included the Wildcats’ most recent national title in 2012.
Notable events: Under Calipari, UK has reached the NCAA Tournament in all but two seasons in which the tournament was held. The Wildcats have reached the Final Four on four occasions, although all of those came between 2011 and 2015.
There have also been some negative moments from Calipari’s on-court product: The Cats lost in the first round of the 2013 NIT at Robert Morris, the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s and posted one of the worst seasons in program history with a 9-16 record in the 2020-21 campaign.
Last season: Kentucky put together a 22-12 record and was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
UK won its first NCAA Tournament game since 2019, but the season still fell short of the lofty expectations that came with the return of star big man Oscar Tshiebwe.
Contract details: Calipari’s most recent contract extension arrived in March 2019 and has been popularly termed a “lifetime contract.”
This marked the sixth different time Calipari’s contract with UK had been amended since he was hired in 2009.
Calipari’s current contract features annual compensation of $8.5 million per year for Calipari for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Then, the compensation increases to $9 million for each of the final four seasons of the agreement, which runs through the 2028-29 season. Calipari would be 70 years old at the end of the 2028-29 season.
According to the contract, Kentucky would pay Calipari 75% of all remaining compensation if the school was to let him go without cause. That amount currently hovers around $40 million.
An “ambassador” clause in the contract would allow Calipari to step down as head coach following the 2023-24 season (or any season thereafter) but remain an employee of the UK athletics department with a salary of $950,000 through the 2028-29 season.
Calipari’s job in this role would be to assist UK in fundraising, promoting the basketball team and other school sports programs.
Johan Cedergren
Sport: Men’s soccer.
Bio: Another current Kentucky coach who is originally from Sweden, Cedergren played college soccer at Cincinnati and worked in the financial industry for several years before entering college coaching.
Cedergren came to UK in December 2011 after spending five years as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Dartmouth.
Notable events: Kentucky men’s soccer has become a powerhouse under Cedergren.
The Wildcats enjoyed their deepest NCAA Tournament run in 2018, reaching the Elite Eight.
Last season: Kentucky had an undefeated regular season and conference tournament, recording a 15-1-5 (W-L-D) mark while winning both the Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
For the first time, the Cats earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, before losing at home in the Sweet 16 to Pittsburgh.
Contract details: Cedergren’s most recent contract with Kentucky runs from July 2022 through June 2026.
▪ From July 2022 through June 2023, Cedergren was to receive a base salary of $250,000.
▪ From July 2023 through June 2024, Cedergren is to receive a base salary of $260,000.
▪ From July 2024 through June 2025, Cedergren is to receive a base salary of $270,000.
▪ From July 2025 through June 2026, Cedergren is to receive a base salary of $280,000.
Cedergren receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Several on-field performance incentives also exist for Cedergren.
▪ If Kentucky wins the conference regular-season or tournament championship, Cedergren can earn $5,000 for each accomplishment.
▪ By reaching the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, Cedergren would receive $10,000.
▪ By reaching the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, Cedergren would receive $15,000.
▪ By reaching the College Cup (the NCAA Tournament Final Four), Cedergren would receive $20,000.
▪ If Kentucky wins the NCAA championship in men’s soccer, Cedergren would receive $30,000.
The NCAA Tournament-related incentives are not cumulative, and Cedergren is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
The conference-related incentives are separate.
Kyra Elzy
Sport: Women’s basketball.
Bio: Elzy became UK’s head coach on an interim basis in November 2020, before having that interim title removed in December 2020.
Elzy was the associate head coach at the time of her promotion, which came following the abrupt resignation and retirement of Matthew Mitchell, the former UK head coach.
Elzy was an in-state high school star at Oldham County, and was a four-year player at Tennessee under legendary head coach Pat Summitt.
Notable events: Elzy’s first two UK teams featured the eventual No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Rhyne Howard, who rewrote UK’s record books during her time in Lexington.
But under Elzy, Kentucky has won just one NCAA Tournament game. The Wildcats did win an SEC Tournament, though, producing a stirring run in the 2022 edition in Nashville for the program’s first league tourney title in 40 years.
Last season: Kentucky went a dismal 12-19, but ended on a high note by advancing to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.
Contract details: In the weeks following that 2022 SEC Tournament championship, Elzy received a one-year contract extension.
Elzy’s new contract runs through June 30, 2027.
With her base salary and multi-media deal and endorsement money, Elzy received $750,000 for the 2022-23 season and will receive $775,000 for the 2023-24 season, $800,000 for the 2024-25 season, $825,000 for the 2025-26 season and $850,000 for the 2026-27 season.
Performance incentives in Elzy’s contract include becoming SEC regular-season champions ($75,000) and SEC Tournament champions ($50,000), which are cumulative bonuses.
Other incentives include reaching the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 ($75,000), reaching the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight ($150,000), reaching the NCAA Tournament Final Four ($250,000) and winning the NCAA Tournament championship ($500,000). These bonuses are not cumulative, and Elzy is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
As far as a buyout goes, if Kentucky was to fire Elzy without cause, then UK would owe Elzy the full remaining base salary and multi-media deal and endorsement money (shown above) on her contract.
This means Elzy’s buyout is currently more than $2.5 million.
Troy Fabiano
Sport: Women’s soccer.
Bio: Fabiano was hired at UK in November 2021 following seven seasons as the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Prior to that, Fabiano spent 17 years as the women’s soccer head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, an NCAA Division II school.
Last season: Despite a fast start that saw the Wildcats win seven of their first eight games, UK finished Fabiano’s first season with a 7-9-2 (W-L-D) record.
UK didn’t win a game in SEC play, and didn’t qualify for the SEC Tournament.
Contract details: Fabiano’s first contract at UK runs from December 2021 through June 2027.
Fabiano has a base salary of $170,000 for each year of his contract.
Fabiano receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Fabiano also has several performance incentives as part of his contract.
▪ If UK wins the SEC regular-season or SEC Tournament championship, Fabiano will get $10,000.
▪ If UK qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, Fabiano will get $10,000.
▪ If UK reaches the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, Fabiano will get $15,000.
▪ If UK advances to the College Cup (NCAA Tournament Final Four), Fabiano will get $20,000.
▪ If UK wins the NCAA championship, Fabiano will get $30,000.
For the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons, the SEC-related incentives and the NCAA Tournament-related incentives are separate for Fabiano.
Starting with the 2025 season, Fabiano would receive only the incentive equal to the highest amount.
Tim Garrison
Sport: Gymnastics.
Bio: A former assistant coach at Nebraska, Garrison has completed 12 seasons as the head coach at Kentucky.
Garrison is just the third head coach in the history of the UK gymnastics program, and he’s raised expectations for the Wildcats over the last decade-plus.
Notable events: Among Kentucky’s most notable achievements with Garrison as head coach:
▪ 15 All-Americans;
▪ UK’s team debut at the NCAA championships (2018);
▪ Highest team score in UK history (197.875 last season).
Last season: UK went undefeated at home and finished with a 10-3 record overall, including 5-2 in SEC competition. UK gymnasts broke 17 individual records during the regular season.
Kentucky finished fourth in the SEC championships, but went on to reach the national semifinals for just the second time in program history. The Cats finished sixth at the 2023 NCAA championships.
Contract details: Prior to last season’s record-breaking performance, Garrison had already been rewarded with a new contract.
According to Garrison’s new contract (which runs through June 2026), he will receive an annual base salary of $220,000.
Garrison receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
There are several non-cumulative bonuses on the table for Garrison during his contract period, including a $30,000 bonus for winning the SEC championship and a $35,000 bonus should UK become national champions.
Lonnie Greene
Sport: Cross country, track and field.
Bio: Greene, who is from The Bahamas but graduated from Murray State in 1989, was hired as the UK cross country and track and field head coach in summer 2018, and has been a smashing success with the Wildcats.
Greene was hired away from Purdue, where he served as the head coach of the Boilermakers’ men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams for six seasons.
Notable events: In 2022, the Kentucky women’s team finished in third place at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, equaling the best team finish at the competition in school history. Outdoors, the UK women’s team also finished in third at the NCAA championships.
With Greene as head coach, UK track star Abby Steiner won three NCAA 200-meter championships and set a plethora of SEC, collegiate and American records.
Last season: The Kentucky women’s track and field team finished sixth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The women’s team placed 17th at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and the men’s team finished in a tie for 19th at the indoor event.
Contract details: In May 2022, Greene reworked his contract with UK for the second time.
Greene’s new contract runs until June 30, 2027.
▪ From July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, Greene was to receive a base salary of $335,000.
▪ From July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, Greene will receive a base salary of $360,000.
▪ From July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, Greene will receive $385,000.
▪ From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Greene will receive $410,000.
▪ From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Greene will receive $435,000.
Greene will also receive $15,000 each contract year from Kentucky’s multi-media deals and endorsements.
Greene’s updated contract also features a retention compensation section that will pay Greene money for each year he remains the UK cross country and track and field head coach.
▪ Because Greene was still the UK head coach on Aug. 1, 2023, he was due to receive $50,000.
▪ If Greene is still the head coach on Aug. 1, 2024, he will be paid $50,000.
▪ If Greene is still the head coach on Aug. 1, 2025, he will be paid $75,000.
▪ If Greene is still the head coach on Aug. 1, 2026, he will be paid $75,000.
▪ If Greene is still the head coach on June 30, 2027, he will be paid $100,000.
Greene’s contract also includes incentives based on finishes in NCAA and SEC competition.
Shelley Jaudon
Sport: Women’s tennis.
Bio: One of the new coaching faces at UK, Jaudon was hired to lead the UK women in May, following the resignation of Carlos Drada, who had been the head coach for 18 seasons.
Jaudon was most recently the women’s tennis head coach at James Madison for five years. She played college tennis at Alabama, but already had family connections to UK.
Jaudon’s father, Al Godwin, played football at Kentucky from 1967-70.
Last season: Kentucky went 12-13 overall and 4-9 in SEC matches.
Contract details: Jaudon’s initial contract at Kentucky will run from June 2, 2023, through June 2028.
For each contract year, Jaudon will be paid $150,000 as a base salary.
Jaudon receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Jaudon also has several performance incentives as part of her contract.
▪ If UK wins the SEC regular-season or SEC Tournament championship, Jaudon gets $20,000.
▪ If UK reaches the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Jaudon gets $20,000.
▪ If UK reaches the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, Jaudon gets $25,000.
▪ If UK reaches the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, Jaudon gets $30,000.
▪ If UK wins the NCAA championship in women’s tennis, Jaudon gets $35,000.
These incentives are not cumulative, and Jaudon is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
Cedric Kauffmann
Sport: Men’s tennis.
Bio: A native of France, Kauffmann was a standout player at Kentucky on the tennis court.
Kauffmann, who was the first tennis player inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, was promoted from UK’s associate head coach to head coach in summer 2012 following the retirement of longtime coach Dennis Emery.
Notable events: In 2022, UK reached the NCAA Tournament title match for the first time, falling to Virginia. This postseason run also featured the first national semifinal appearance in program history.
Last season: In April, Kentucky defeated Georgia for the SEC Tournament title, which marked the second league tourney title in program history (1992).
UK finished 27-5, losing in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, again to Virginia.
The Wildcats did get some revenge on the Cavaliers though, scoring a victory at then-No. 1 ranked Virginia in February.
Contract details: Kauffmann’s most recent contract with Kentucky runs from July 2022 through June 2026.
For each contract year, Kauffmann will receive an increasing base salary.
▪ From July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, Kauffmann was to receive a base salary of $220,000.
▪ From July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, Kauffmann is to receive a base salary of $225,000.
▪ From July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, Kauffmann is to receive a base salary of $230,000.
▪ From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Kauffmann is to receive a base salary of $235,000.
Kauffmann receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Kauffmann also has several performance incentives as part of his contract.
▪ If UK wins the SEC regular-season or SEC Tournament championship, Kauffmann is to receive $25,000.
▪ If UK reaches the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Kauffmann is to receive $20,000.
▪ If UK reaches the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, Kauffmann is to receive $25,000.
▪ If UK reaches the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, Kauffmann is to receive $30,000.
▪ If UK wins the NCAA championship in men’s tennis, Kauffmann will receive $35,000.
These incentives are not cumulative, and Kauffmann is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
Rachel Lawson
Sport: Softball.
Bio: A former college softball standout at Massachusetts, Lawson became just the third head coach in UK softball history when she was hired in July 2007 after spending three seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky.
Notable events: Kentucky’s only trip to the Women’s College World Series came under Lawson’s guidance in 2014.
Other breakout moments under Lawson’s watch include UK’s first national seed in the NCAA Tournament and the first time Kentucky hosted an NCAA Tournament regional.
John Cropp Stadium was opened in April 2013, giving the Wildcats a top-of-the-line home field.
Last season: The Wildcats went 31-22-1 overall and 10-14 in SEC games. UK went one-and-done in the SEC Tournament and failed to advance past the regional stage in the NCAA Tournament.
Last season also marked the end of the college career of decorated catcher Kayla Kowalik.
Contract details: Lawson’s most recent contract with UK runs from July 2022 through June 2026.
Lawson receives a base salary of $300,000 for each contract year.
Lawson receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Lawson also has several performance incentives as part of her contract.
▪ If UK wins the SEC regular-season or tournament championship, Lawson will receive $40,000.
▪ If UK reaches the super-regional round of the NCAA Tournament, Lawson will receive $30,000.
▪ If UK reaches the Women’s College World Series, Lawson will receive $40,000.
▪ If UK makes it to the championship series of the Women’s College World Series, Lawson will receive $45,000.
▪ If UK wins the NCAA championship in softball, Lawson will receive $50,000.
These incentives are not cumulative, and Lawson is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
Lawson’s contract also includes longevity bonuses.
▪ If Lawson was still the UK head softball coach on Aug. 1, 2022 — which she was — Lawson was to receive a $100,000 bonus.
▪ If Lawson was still the UK head softball coach on Aug. 1, 2023 — which she was — Lawson was to receive $50,000.
▪ If Lawson is still the UK head softball coach on Aug. 1, 2024, she is to receive another bonus of $50,000.
▪ If Lawson is still the UK head softball coach on Aug. 1, 2025, she is to receive a bonus of $100,000.
Bret Lundgaard
Sport: Men’s and women’s swimming and diving.
Bio: Lundgaard is the newest addition to the Kentucky coaching tree, having been hired July 24.
Formerly the Princeton University women’s swimming and diving head coach, Lundgaard swam collegiately at Washington.
Notable events: Lundgaard is in Lexington following a significant summer shakeup in the UK swimming and diving program.
Former swimming and diving head coach Lars Jorgensen resigned in late June after a report from SwimSwam.com said Jorgensen had been suspended due to an NCAA investigation.
According to the SwimSwam report, several assistant coaches at UK were suspended and associate head coach Michael Camper resigned.
Jorgensen had led the Kentucky program since the 2013-14 season.
Last season: Kentucky finished third at the women’s SEC championships and eighth at the men’s SEC championships.
Freshman Levi Sandidge was a standout for the Cats, becoming the first Kentucky male swimmer since 2006 to win a gold medal at the SEC championships.
Sandidge won his gold in the 1,650 (yards) freestyle, and went on to be named a first-team All-American in that event as the UK men finished 28th at the NCAA championships.
The UK women finished 19th at the NCAA championships.
Contract details: Unavailable.
Kentucky has not yet publicly posted the details of Lundgaard’s contract.
Jorgensen’s most recent UK contract was set to run through the 2024-25 school year. Last season, Jorgensen’s annual salary was $190,000.
Nick Mingione
Sport: Baseball.
Bio: Mingione was hired at Kentucky in June 2016 after a long spell at Mississippi State, where he rose to the title of assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Additionally, Mingione was an assistant coach at Kentucky for two seasons in 2006 and 2007.
Notable events: Mingione has been at the helm for some of the most successful seasons in UK baseball history.
Kentucky’s only two trips to the super-regional stage of the NCAA Tournament have come under Mingione in 2017 and 2023.
But those 2017 and 2023 seasons aside, Mingione’s other UK teams all failed to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Last season: The Wildcats posted a 40-21 overall record as part of a season that saw the Cats win 17 straight games at one point. UK emerged from the Lexington Regional after winning back-to-back games against rival Indiana.
UK lost in a two-game sweep at eventual national champion LSU in the super regional.
Contract details: Mingione signed a contract extension in early 2021 to keep him with the Wildcats through the 2025 season.
As part of this new contract, Mingione was to be extended by one year if Kentucky made the NCAA Tournament between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2025.
Given last season’s success, Mingione’s contract now stretches through the 2026 season.
Mingione receives a base salary of $400,000 each contract year, and he also receives $175,000 each year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Mingione’s current contract also includes the following incentives:
▪ If Kentucky reaches the NCAA Tournament, Mingione receives $25,000.
▪ If Kentucky reaches the super-regional stage of the NCAA Tournament, Mingione receives $100,000.
▪ If Kentucky reaches the College World Series, Mingione receives $150,000.
▪ If Kentucky wins the College World Series, Mingione receives $200,000.
These performance incentives are not cumulative, and Mingione is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
Should Mingione want out of his contract with UK, he would have to pay the school $200,000.
But, if Mitch Barnhart is not the Kentucky athletics director when Mingione asks out of his deal, then Mingione doesn’t have to pay anything to the school.
Harry Mullins
Sport: Rifle.
Bio: A native of Germany, Mullins has long been at the helm of a college rifle dynasty at Kentucky.
Mullins is a product of the program he now leads: He won the SEC smallbore championship while at UK in 1983, 1984 and 1986, before becoming the head coach of the program in 1987.
Notable events: Mullins has guided Kentucky to four national championships in 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2022. He is just the second UK head coach (Adolph Rupp) to win a quartet of national titles.
Mullins is also the longest-tenured UK head coach: He’s about to begin his 36th season with the program.
Last season: Kentucky finished third overall at the 2023 NCAA championships, and won the regular-season Great America Rifle Conference title.
Contract details: Mullins’ newest contract at Kentucky runs from July 2022 through June 2026.
▪ From July 2022 through June 2023, Mullins was to receive a base salary of $140,000.
▪ From July 2023 through June 2024, Mullins will receive a base salary of $145,000.
▪ From July 2024 through June 2025, Mullins will receive a base salary of $150,000.
▪ From July 2025 through June 2026, Mullins will receive a base salary of $155,000.
Mullins receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Several incentives are also in place for Mullins.
▪ If Kentucky wins the conference regular-season or conference tournament championship, Mullins will receive $20,000.
▪ A finish between 10th and sixth at the NCAA championships would give Mullins $10,000.
▪ A finish between fifth and second at the NCAA championships would give Mullins $15,000.
▪ If Kentucky wins the NCAA championship in rifle, Mullins receives $25,000.
These performance incentives are not cumulative, and Mullins is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
Craig Skinner
Sport: Volleyball.
Bio: Skinner was hired as UK’s head coach in December 2004, following a spell of five seasons as an assistant coach at Nebraska.
A native of Muncie, Indiana, Skinner is the only person to win a national championship as the head coach of an SEC volleyball team.
Notable events: That national title for Kentucky (officially in the 2020 tournament, although it was played in April 2021) remains the high-water mark in UK volleyball history.
But consistent success has become a hallmark for the Wildcats under Skinner: UK has reached the NCAA Sweet 16 stage a total of eight times with Skinner as head coach, and UK has won six straight SEC regular-season titles.
Last season: A 22-8 overall record included another trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the Cats, where they lost in straight sets.
Contract details: Skinner’s current contract with Kentucky runs from July 1, 2022, through June 2027.
▪ From July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, Skinner was to receive a base salary of $450,000.
▪ From July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, Skinner is to receive a base salary of $475,000.
▪ From July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, Skinner is to receive a base salary of $525,000.
▪ From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Skinner is to receive a base salary of $525,000.
▪ From July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Skinner is to receive a base salary of $525,000.
Skinner receives $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Skinner has several performance incentives as part of his contract.
▪ If UK reaches the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, Skinner receives $50,000.
▪ If UK wins the NCAA championship in volleyball, Skinner receives $75,000.
These incentives are not cumulative, and Skinner is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
Mark Stoops
Sport: Football.
Bio: Stoops was hired as Kentucky’s head coach in November 2012 from his previous job as defensive coordinator at Florida State.
Stoops played college football at Iowa and spent a brief period as a high school coach in addition to a nearly three-decade career as a college coach. Stoops’ only head coaching job has been the UK one, and he’s the all-time leader in head coaching wins for the Wildcats.
Notable events: The Wildcats have qualified for seven straight bowl games, and under Stoops, Kentucky also had a stretch of four straight bowl wins for the first time.
Stoops has also overseen multiple 10-win seasons for the Cats. Prior to 2018, Kentucky had not won 10 games in a season since 1977.
Last season: Kentucky stumbled to a 7-6 record despite starting 4-0, and the season featured a lopsided loss at Tennessee, an embarrassing home defeat to Vanderbilt and a shutout loss to Iowa in the Music City Bowl.
UK did defeat Louisville for the fourth straight season, though, and the Cats also beat Florida for the second straight season and the third time in five years.
Contract details: Just one day before that loss to Vanderbilt, UK signed Stoops to a contract extension that would keep him as the head coach through the 2030 season.
According to his new contract, Stoops will receive a $9 million per year salary that started in February and will continue through June 2031.
Currently, Stoops would have to pay Kentucky $4 million for a contract buyout.
Stoops will be paid $100,000 anytime his team participates in a non-New Year’s Six bowl game. That bonus increases by $50,000 if Kentucky also wins at least eight games.
Stoops will be paid $300,000 if Kentucky participates in a current New Year’s Six bowl game, or any future bowls added to the College Football Playoff.
Should UK reach the College Football Playoff semifinals, the bonus would increase to $500,000.
If UK reaches the national title game, the bonus jumps to $650,000. If the Cats win a national championship, Stoops gets $800,000.
Gator Todd
Sport: Men’s golf.
Bio: One of several new head coaches that arrived at UK this offseason, Todd was announced as the next Kentucky boss in May.
Former head coach Brian Craig resigned last spring after 22 seasons with the Cats.
Todd was formerly the associate head coach at Vanderbilt, and played college golf at Alabama before pursuing a pro career.
Last season: Under Craig, Kentucky finished 13th at the SEC championships, but senior (now graduate student) Alex Goff had a standout individual showing by finishing second.
Goff was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection.
Contract details: Todd’s contract runs from June 1, 2023, until June 30, 2028.
Todd will be paid $190,000 for his first year as head coach (2023-24), $205,000 for his second year as head coach (2024-25), $220,000 for his third year as head coach (2025-26), $235,000 for his fourth year as head coach (2026-27) and $250,000 for his fifth and final year under this contract (2027-28).
Todd will receive $5,000 each contract year as a result of UK’s multi-media rights and apparel agreements.
Todd’s contract also includes the following incentives:
▪ If Kentucky wins the SEC regular-season or SEC Tournament championship, Todd earns $20,000.
▪ If Kentucky qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, Todd earns $10,000.
▪ If Kentucky reaches the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, Todd earns $25,000.
▪ If Kentucky reaches the NCAA Tournament semifinals, Todd earns $30,000.
▪ If Kentucky wins the national championship in men’s golf, Todd earns $35,000.
These performance incentives are not cumulative, and Todd is to receive only the one equal to the highest amount.
