How much can Louisville WBB coach Jeff Walz make during March Madness?
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As Jeff Walz continues his 19th postseason as head coach of Louisville women's basketball, The Courier Journal analyzed the value of his contract and performance incentives ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
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Walz's current deal with UofL runs through March 31, 2029. His base salary for 2025-26 is $1 million after re-negotiating his compensation related to the establishment and funding of a split-dollar life insurance program. Walz's salary will increase to $1.9 million in 2026-27, $1.95 million in 2027-28 and $2 million in 2028-29.
Additionally, Louisville provides Walz with a family membership to a golf or country club in the Louisville area, a monthly automobile stipend of $1,000 and “reasonable travel expenses incurred” by up to five immediate family members attending games outside the city.
He gets discretionary use of a suite, eight club seats and two parking passes for each women's basketball home game, eight tickets to each away game, eight tickets to each postseason tournament game and eight club seats and one parking pass for each home football game. Walz is also allowed to conduct summer youth basketball camps on campus. And UofL provides him with "standard" benefits, including welfare, health and life insurance and retirement benefit and incentive programs.
Walz is also permitted to pursue outside income, but he must report it annually to the president of the university through the athletics director on or before January 15.
If UofL were to terminate Walz's contract without cause before March 31, it would owe him $3.75 million. If it waited until April 1, the number would drop to $3.5 million. Starting April 1, 2028, UofL would owe Walz his remaining base salary, or $2 million.
If Walz were to terminate his contract at any time prior to its expiration on March 31, 2029, he would owe UofL $2 million within 60 days.
Starting April 1, if Walz decided he no longer wanted to serve as head coach, he can transition to an administrative role within the athletics department, according to Section 13(e)(iii)(g) of his contract. That same section states that "it is anticipated that the duties of such position will include fundraising, but the duties of such position shall be determined at the time of the Coach's transition." Walz's rate in that role would not exceed $500,000 per year, and "it is anticipated" that he would remain in the role through the end of his contract term.
Jeff Walz postseason incentives for Louisville women's basketball
Bonuses earned are in bold.
- Conference regular season title: $50,000
- Conference Championship Tournament Performance: $50,000 for winning championship game
- NCAA Tournament participation: $25,000
- NCAA Round of 32: $25,000
- NCAA Sweet 16: $50,000
- NCAA Elite Eight: $75,000
- NCAA Final Four: $100,000
- NCAA championship win: $250,000
- Conference Coach of the Year: $25,000
- National Coach of the Year (AP, WBCA): $50,000
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Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at [email protected] and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her "Full-court Press" newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports' biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jeff Walz contract, March Madness bonuses for Louisville basketball