3 college basketball coaches who could secure lifetime contracts like Rick Barnes

A lifetime contract is not just rare; it is borderline impossible. Yet, some of the game’s best have been able to hit that mark. 

Today, we had another astronomically crazy deal break between the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Rick Barnes. And with that deal, Barnes secured a “lifetime contract.” Yes, that is exactly what it means. A lifetime. 

He, along with very few other coaches in history, is under a lifetime contract. In the case of Rick Barnes, this contract will automatically roll over to add another year, therefore putting him under contract for three years at all times. Essentially, that contract will never expire. 

According to On3’s VolQuest, Barnes will be owed “100% of what’s remaining on his contract” if Tennessee decided to fire him before April 15, 2028. Talk about big numbers…

Besides Barnes, there are currently only two active coaches under legit lifetime contracts. Kansas’ Bill Self, whose contract guarantees him $53 million in the first five years, and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, who is on a five-year rolling agreement called the “Spartan For Life” deal. 

Outside of the household names, Rick Barnes has now become only the third active head coach to be under a lifetime contract with his university. So, with that being said, who will be the next? Here are some possible candidates…

Dan Hurley - UConn 

You would have to be out of your mind to click on this article, not expecting Hurley’s name to land on this list. Sure, it might be the most popular answer, but that comes for a good reason. Dan Hurley is lined up to be an all-time great coach in the history of the sport. 

It was just a little over a year ago that the Los Angeles Lakers attempted to hire Hurley, before he stayed true to UConn, signing a $50 million extension with the Huskies. Yes, he turned down the money to stay and coach in an evolving college basketball game. A game where recruiting and the transfer portal define success. 

In the grand scheme of things, Hurley is betting on himself. He already is one of the most coveted coaches in the country and is on the third-highest payroll in the nation. In reality, there is only one “next level up,” that being a lifetime contract. With a 316-174 record and 2 national titles, Hurley is certainly on pace.

Mark Few - Gonzaga

Here’s where we shake things up a bit. Mark Few is a name that doesn’t get mentioned too often unless Gonzaga is doing something very good. But Few deserves more respect for what he’s done and continues to do with the Zags. 

A large reason for Mark Few not being mentioned too often comes with the fact that his team plays in a very weak conference. Ultimately, money follows success, and that is where Few has earned his stripes. Few has an astounding 742-152 (83% win rate) record. He has also led Gonzaga to 22 regular season titles and 20 WCC titles. He has reached the national title game twice, with 8 Elite Eight appearances, and 14 Sweet Sixteen appearances. That level of consistency is no mistake.

The real question is, what hasn’t he done? Mind you, Few has been the Zags’ head coach for 25 years now. At this point, Few should have a lifetime contract. The only thing seemingly holding him back from that is the hump of winning a national championship. 

Few also has experience coaching the USA National Team in the 2024 Summer Olympics. So overall, the resume is very sound. The most head-scratching fact of all is that Mark Few is the 49th highest-paid coach in the nation. So realistically, Gonzaga would need to reach perennial blue blood status and win a couple of national titles before Few could secure the lifetime contract.

Dawn Stanley - South Carolina 

Why not throw Dawn Stanley’s name in here? Of course, guys like Bruce Pearl, Todd Golden, and Kelvin Sampson are all killing it, but how about this lady right here? Dawn Stanley is not just an icon of the game, but she is defining women’s sports in an unprecedented way.

Just a short while ago, the New York Knicks interviewed Stanley to possibly become the team’s next head coach. That was the first time a woman had ever been interviewed for a position in the NBA. 

Stanley’s impact stretches to all aspects of basketball as a byproduct of her immense success. Since becoming the head coach of the Gamecocks in 2008, Stanley has won three national titles. She has also tallied a 647-190 record across her 25 seasons of coaching at both Temple and South Carolina. 

Stanley is already a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and a to see her transition over to a men’s basketball coaching career, or even greater opportunities like the NBA. 

Stanley is currently the highest paid women’s college basketball coach, making $4 million annually. It would make sense for South Carolina to throw her the first ever lifetime contract for a woman.