Arizona's Tommy Lloyd shuts the door on UNC, becomes one of college basketball's highest-paid coaches
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Arizona's Tommy Lloyd shuts the door on UNC, becomes one of college basketball's highest-paid coaches originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Arizona made moves to keep Tommy Lloyd in Tucson.
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The Wildcats coach has agreed to a contract extension through 2031, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. A deal to make him one of the highest-paid coaches in men's college basketball.
"Tommy Lloyd is the best coach in college basketball, and we have a strong conviction in the future of Arizona Basketball under his leadership," Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement.
"Our program's success this season – winning championships, competing on the sport's biggest stage and excelling academically – is a testament to the standard that he and his staff have established. He has recruited and developed student-athletes of character who make a positive impact on our team, our campus and our community. Tommy has strengthened our foundation while honoring the tradition that makes Arizona Basketball one of the premier programs in the country, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead this program at the highest level for years to come."
More: Arizona's Bryce James shuts down Final Four interviews for LeBron James, Klutch
Lloyd was reportedly being pursued by North Carolina as a replacement for Hubert Davis. He was reportedly offered more money, but chose to remain at Arizona.
Sources: UNC offered Tommy Lloyd a top-two contract in CBB. Lloyd took less to stay, but will still bump up to $7.2 million starting next season. Staff pool also will get a huge bump + incentives brought back to their contract structures. He'll also no longer report to the AD. https://t.co/irS6aGzVz3
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 3, 2026
In his five seasons as the head coach at Arizona, he has amassed a record of 148-35, which is the most wins in NCAA history for a head coach in his first five seasons. The Big 12 Coach of the Year has led Arizona's dominance throughout the season as the last major undefeated and are currently 36-2 in the Final Four.
The Wildcats face fellow No. 1 Michigan on Saturday night's national semifinal (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS).
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