It was a Good Friday for Tommy Lloyd.
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After questions surrounded his future with Arizona before the No. 1 seed Wildcats appearance in the Final Four against No. 1 seed Michigan on Saturday, Lloyd cleared any potential distraction for the weekend.
Per ESPN, Lloyd signed a new five-year deal that will pay an average of $7.5 million per year.
Following North Carolina‘s parting of ways with head coach Hubert Davis, Lloyd quickly appeared to be the top target for the Tar Heels. Lloyd appeared to play into the drama, suggesting Arizona would be fine when and if he left.
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UNC apparently did try to make Lloyd its next head coach.
Per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, the Tar Heels offered Lloyd a “top-two contract” to come to Chapel Hill. Lloyd rejected the offer, choosing to make less to coach 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,” Norlander posted on X. “Staff pool also will get a huge bump + incentives brought back to their contract structures. He’ll also no longer report to the AD.”
Kansas head coach Bill Self makes the most as a head coach in college basketball at $8.8 million per year. Arkansas head coach John Calipari is second, making $8 million per season.
While North Carolina did not land its intended target, Norlander’s report shows that the program is willing to pay big bucks to land a big hire this spring.
Other coaches should be in play for UNC after Lloyd rejected the offer. Michigan head coach Dusty May has been floated as a potential replacement for Davis.
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan would be another big catch for the Tar Heels. Donovan appears ready to be done with the front office mess in Chicago. He won two national championships as the head coach of the Florida Gators.
For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
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