Matt Painter Agrees To Extension To Keep Him As Purdue Basketball Coach Through 2031

WEST LAFAYETTE − Purdue basketball's soon-to-be all-time winningest coach may soon pass his mentor in tenure as well.

Matt Painter enters the 2026-27 season 11 wins shy of tying Gene Keady's program record for victories.

Painter has agreed to an amended contract extension that will keep the Purdue basketball coach leading the Boilermakers through the 2030-31 season.

Painter served as an assistant coach under Keady for the 2004-05 season as part of a succession plan to become head coach for the 2005-06 season. If Painter remains head coach through the duration of his new contract agreement, he'll be at 26 seasons, surpassing Keady's 25.

“Purdue is a very special place for me, and it’s an honor to continue to be the head basketball coach at my alma mater,” Painter said in a statement. “I’m humbled that the Purdue administration continues to put their faith in me to lead this program and am excited to continue to elevate our program with class and strive to reach all of our goals on and off the court.” 

Ward "Piggy" Lambert served 29 seasons as Purdue basketball coach from 1916-17 and then uninterrupted from 1918-46.

Painter's amended contract is pending approval by the Purdue board of trustees.

The amended contract includes "increased annual compensation and retention and performance bonus enhancements," per a Purdue Athletics release. Contract details will be available after approval by the board, which has its next scheduled meeting on Dec. 10 and 11.

Painter's most recent amendment to his contract was approved by the board in June 2024 to run through the 2028-29 season. It included an annual $250,000 retention bonus.

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Under Painter's previous amendment, he was due $5.175 million for the 2026-27 season, which includes base salary, supplemental retirement contribution, life insurance premium advance and his annual retention bonus. That number was contracted to increase to $5.2 million for the 2027-28 season and $5.225 million for 2028-29.

Painter is 501-224 in 21 seasons as Purdue's head coach and is coming off an Elite Eight appearance, the third time advancing to at least the Elite Eight for the Boilermakers under Painter's watch. Purdue's streak of 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is the fourth longest active streak in Division I. Purdue has won five Big Ten regular season titles and three Big Ten Tournament championships during Painter's run as head coach.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Matt Painter agrees to extension to keep him as Purdue basketball coach through 2031