Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden has signed a six-year contract extension to stay in Gainesville, according to several reports. The school has yet to officially announce the agreement, which runs through the 2031-32 season.
The extension has a total value of $49.5 million, Golden’s agent told the Orlando Sentinel. The $8.25 million average annual salary makes Golden the second-highest paid coach in college basketball behind Kansas’ Bill Self ($8.85 million), according to USA Today. UConn’s Dan Hurley ($8.025) and John Calipari of SEC rival Arkansas ($7.75 million) now rank behind Golden.
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In Gainesville, Golden will also earn more in annual salary than new head football coach Jon Sumrall, who will be paid $7.45 million per season on the six-year, $44.7 million deal he signed after leaving Tulane for Florida.
Golden, 41, is going into his fifth season coaching the Gators. He has a 103-41 record, earning a NCAA tournament Final Four appearance and national championship during the 2024-25 season. He’s also won SEC regular-season and conference tournament titles during his tenure.
Since Florida’s 2025-26 season ended with a second-round NCAA tournament loss to Iowa, North Carolina was rumored to be interested in Golden for its head-coach opening before Michael Malone was hired to replace Hubert Davis. Howeer, no formal offer was reportedly made.
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The Golden State Warriors also intended to pursue Golden if Steve Kerr had retired, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor and Kelly Iko. In April, Golden was asked about those reports and said “I’m definitely planning on coaching the Gators.”
The extension is the third Golden has agreed to during his four seasons at Florida. He last signed a two-year extension following the 2023-24 season that gave him a $1 million annual raise.
The coach’s new contract also includes a $3 million buyout if Golden leaves for the NBA, but drops to $2 million after the 2027-28 campaign and $1 million in 2029-30. However, if Golden were to leave for another NCAA program after this coming season, he would have to play a $16 million buyout. That would drop to $13 million in 2028, $5 million in 2029, $3 million in 2030 and $1 million more after each subsequent season through 2032, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
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Additionally, if athletic director Scott Strickin no longer has that job during Golden’s tenure, his buyout would drop to $5 million in the first two years of the contract.
Golden originally signed a six-year, $18 million contract to leave San Francisco for the Gators. He coached the Dons for three seasons, compiling a 57-36 record with one NCAA tournament berth.
Florida is expected to open the 2026-27 season as the No. 1 team in the AP poll with a team that returns forwards Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh, in addition to center Rueben Chinyelu.
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