College basketball coaches got paid bonus for 2020 NCAA Tournament that didn't happen

The 2020 NCAA Tournament of course did not happen, but some coaches collected bonuses anyway

A year ago today, March 11, the world changed instantly as COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and shut downs hit every corner. College basketball will have an NCAA Tournament this year, after last year’s was cancelled.

COVID-19 has been costly for revenue everywhere, sports included. College athletic departments have had to weigh buyouts as a factor in coaching changes, though that didn’t impact the hiring cycle in college football all that much.

Most college basketball coaches have bonuses tied to conference titles, tournament berths, etc. Via USA Today, in an article looking at coach’s bonuses within the unique dynamic of COVID, some coaches collected NCAA Tournament bonuses last year despite the tournament not happening. The assumption being the team would have made the field if the tournament had happened.

Here’s the list:

Bobby Hurley, Arizona State - $75,000

Tony Bennett, Virginia - $50,000

Greg Gard, Wisconsin - $50,000 

Bruce Pearl, Auburn - $50,000 

Mike White, Florida - $37,500

Dana Altman, Oregon - $25,000

Tom Izzo, Michigan State - $25,000

Steve Pikiell, Rutgers - $25,000

Mark Turgeon, Maryland - $25,000

Brad Underwood, Illinois - $25,000

It was noted by Oregon that Altman returned his bonus.

Paying out the bonuses that were in line to paid out anyway is a measure of good faith by the schools. In the big picture of what a coach is paid, even $75,000 at the high end to Hurley doesn’t feel huge. USA Today also pointed to the “legal dilemma” attached to the bonuses, based on the assumption of a tournament bid in all of the above cases. So if only to avoid that headache, and acknowledge the circumstances that are beyond anyone’s control, doling out the 2020 tournament bonus was an easy decision.