Purdue head coach Matt Painter has received a lucrative contract amendment with the Boilermakers ahead of his team's exhibition game against the UConn Huskies. Painter, who has been a head coach with the Boilermakers for 22 seasons, will see his salary raised from $5.2 million to $7 million, per ESPN's Pete Thamel, and the deal will "escalate" each year. According to Thamel, the amended contract puts Painter among the top 10 highest-paid coaches in college basketball, and No. 2 behind Michigan State's Tom Izzo for the Big Ten.
Following the agreement, Painter is under contract through the 2030-31 NCAA basketball season, per ESPN's report. The 56-year-old Painter first joined Purdue in 2004, then took over as head coach for the 2005-06 season. Since then, he has compiled a 501-224 overall record.
The team has reached the NCAA Tournament in all but four seasons under Painter, including a runner-up finish in the 2023-24 championship game, showcasing Painter's strong track record for producing winning teams. More news: Fever React to Caitlin Clark’s Major WNBA Honor Amid Front-Office Shakeup Earlier this year, USA Today showed Kansas' Bill Self topping the list of highest-paid NCAA Division I men's basketball coaches with $8.853 million, followed by UConn's Dan Hurley at $8.025 million and Arkansas's John Calipari at $7.75 million. Michigan State's Tom Izzo ranks fourth with approximately $7.2 million.
Painter will lead the Boilermakers against Hurley's UConn Huskies in an exhibition game on Tuesday night. Both teams begin their regular-season slates in early November, with Purdue facing a tough matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, currently ranked 15th in the college basketball poll. UConn could provide an early test for Purdue, although the exhibition format could limit how long either team's key players are on the court.
UConn lost multiple players from last year's runner-up team in the championship game, including starters Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr., who are now in the NBA. In addition, starter Solo Ball will redshirt this season after undergoing wrist surgery following the NCAA Tournament. More news: Madison Beer Reacts to Disney Heckler Over Justin Herbert’s Winless Chargers However, highly touted prospect Braylon Mullins returned for his sophomore season to see if he can lead the Huskies to further success while improving his game and boosting his NBA Draft stock.
UConn enters the season ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 poll. After an NCAA Tournament finish in the Elite Eight during March Madness last season, Painter lost his core trio of seniors: Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn. With additional players departing through the transfer portal this offseason, Tuesday's exhibition will offer an early look at how Painter's revamped roster compares to last season's successful squad.
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