Florida coach Todd Golden has signed a lucrative six-year contract extension worth $49.5 million, making him one of the top five highest-paid coaches in college basketball by the 2026-27 season. This deal, reported by CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, ensures Golden will earn $7.5 million in the upcoming season.

The only coaches set to earn more than Golden this season are:

• Bill Self (Kansas)
• Dan Hurley (UConn)
• John Calipari (Arkansas)
• Michael Malone (North Carolina), who also earns $7.5 million in his first year.

Golden's impressive leadership led Florida to win the 2025 national title and secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Expectations for the upcoming season are high, with the Gators projected as the top-ranked team in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. They are favored to win the national title in 2027, ahead of Duke (+550 at FanDuel Sportsbook).

Golden's contract includes significant buyout clauses:

• 85% of the remaining value if fired without cause.
• Starts at $16 million this season, dropping to $13 million next year.
• Reduces to $1 million in the final season (2031-32).

For an NBA job, his buyout is $3 million until March 2027, decreasing to $2 million for the next two seasons. If Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin departs, Golden's buyout reduces significantly to $5 million for two years, and to $0 for NBA opportunities thereafter.

Currently, Florida is ranked No. 1 in Gary Parrish's Top 25 And 1.