ABOR approves raise for head coach Adia Barnes

Following a terrific 2020-21 season for the Arizona Women’s Basketball team, the ABOR has approved yet another raise for head coach, Adia Barnes. 

Arizona Women’s Basketball head coach Adia Barnes is building something special in Tucson, and after a season in which she led the Wildcats to their first National Championship appearance, naturally, she is seeing an immediate payoff, literally.

Already, the Arizona Board of Regents approved one contract extension for Barnes, and it was perfect timing too considering there were a few prominent job openings open shortly after the season ended.

Arizona Wildcats

Well now, the University of Arizona went even further to help secure Barnes for the foreseeable future. In a regularly scheduled meeting, the Arizona Board of Regents met once again on Thursday afternoon, officially approving the contracts for Arizona basketball coaches Tommy Lloyd and Barnes.

Lloyd’s five-year contract was finally approved, and the first-year head coach will earn $2.9 million for the 2021-2022 season. He will receive a base salary of $1.8 million, and an additional $1.1 million through IMG and Nike.

As for Barnes, her five-year, $3.35 million deal is seeing a sizeable increase as well. After a phenomenal run in March/ April, plus the upward trajectory of the program, she restructured her contract, receiving a 75 percent increase to her salary. Barnes will earn $5.85 million over the next five years.

Adia Barnes of course is well-deserving of the pay raise after she has completely changed to perception around Arizona Women’s Basketball, all the while delivering some big-time results. 

For 2021-22, the Wildcats should once again have a very competitive group that will likely compete for not only a Pac-12 Championship but potentially an NCAA Championship as well.

Despite losing Aari McDonald, the Wildcats return a large contingency of talent from last years’ roster most namely Sam Thomas, in addition to adding talented players like Koi Love (Vanderbilt), Ariyah Copeland (Alabama), Taylor Chavez (Oregon), and Aaronette Vonleh (commit) among others.

The pay increase for Barnes is well-deserved and hopefully just one of many to come for her moving forward!