Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd Agrees To 5-Year Contract Extension, Dispelling North Carolina Rumors

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 79-64 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 28, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Getty Images Arizona men’s basketball coach Tommy Lloyd has agreed to a new five-year contract extension at the school, dispelling rising rumors that he might leave in the next few days to take over at North Carolina. ESPN reported the deal makes Lloyd one of the five highest-paid coaches in college basketball and will start at $7.

2 million next season. It will average $7. 5 million over the contract.

“I’m happy to announce I’m staying at Arizona,” Lloyd, who has led Arizona to its first Final Four since 2001, said at a press conference Friday here at the Final Four in Indianapolis. "We've been able to get some things done the past couple days. He added: “Arizona basketball, you guys know what it means to me, and when I say it's a special place, that always comes from the bottom of my heart.

” There had been much speculation that Lloyd was using the North Carolina opening as leverage against the school and athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois to gain more resources for Name, Image and Likeness and for his staff. He and Reed-Francois have reportedly had a somewhat difficult relationship. “We’re thrilled to have Coach under contract and put this behind us and just focus on the national championship,” she said here Friday.