How Much Can Uk Women's Coach Kenny Brooks Make During March Madness?

As Kenny Brooks begins his second postseason as head coach of Kentucky women's basketball, The Courier Journal analyzed the value of his contract and performance incentives ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

Brooks signed a one-year extension in October, so his current deal with UK runs through June 30, 2030. His base salary remains $400,000, with the majority of his annual compensation stemming from media and endorsement obligations (this media and endorsement number sits at $1 million in 2025-26 and will increase to $1.1 million in 2026-27, $1.3 million in 2027-28, $1.4 million in 2028-29 and $1.5 million in 2029-30.) His total salary for the current contract year, before any postseason incentives, is $1.4 million.

UK also provides Brooks with “standard employee benefits,” including a health plan, life insurance, dental insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and long-term disability, as well as vacation time subject to athletics director approval. The university pays for a membership at a “mutually agreed upon country club" and the choice of one car or an automobile stipend. And UK contributes 10% of Brooks' annual salary to a retirement plan, while Brooks contributes 5%.

Brooks is allowed to pursue outside activities authorized by the university and must provide a written detailed account to UK's president and AD at least once a year. He can also conduct basketball camps using UK's facilities.

Additionally, Brooks gets 12 “prime,” lower-level tickets (with access to any available hospitality club area) for each women's home game, 10 tickets to each away or neutral site (including postseason) women's basketball game, four tickets to each men's basketball home game and six tickets to each football home game.

If UK were to fire Brooks without cause, it would owe him 75% of the base salary and media and endorsements money "for the remainder of the unexpired term.” There is a section of Brooks' contract, though, that states he has a duty to seek employment to mitigate the university’s obligation.

If Brooks were to terminate his contract before April 1, while Mitch Barnhart is still employed as Kentucky’s athletics director, Brooks would owe UK $750,000. That number would drop to $500,000 if he were to terminate his agreement after March 31 but before Barnhart retires in June. When Barnhart retires, the money Brooks would owe UK would be cut in half. So from Barnhart's retirement through April 1, 2027, Brooks would owe $250,000. He would owe $125,000 after March 31, 2027 and prior to April 1, 2028. He'd owe nothing after March 31, 2028.

Kenny Brooks postseason bonuses for Kentucky women's basketball

• Academic Progress Rate: $25,000 for APR .975 or greater
• Team GPA $25,000 for Team GPA of 3.0 or higher for both Fall and Spring Semesters
• Conference Regular Season (co-)Champion: $75,000
• Conference Tournament Champion: $50,000

The following postseason bonuses are not cumulative.

• NCAA Sweet 16 participation: $75,000
• NCAA Elite Eight participation: $150,000
• Final Four participation: $250,000
• NCAA Championship win: $500,000

Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com 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: Kenny Brooks contract, March Madness bonuses for Kentucky basketball