College Basketball
USC Women’s Basketball Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Contract, Salary & Buyout
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Lindsay Gottlieb has led USC women’s basketball to national relevance. In doing so, she has secured an extension through the 2029-30 season. This season, the Trojans went 28-3 in the regular season and came up just short in the Big Ten Championship Game vs. UCLA. Now, the Trojans are among the favorites for the Women’s National Championship, and Gottlieb can take all the credit for getting them there. Here’s a breakdown of her contract, salary, incentives, and buyout.
Lindsay Gottlieb Contract
Gottlieb signed a contract extension in April, 2024 that keeps her at USC through the 2029-30 season. The deal was reportedly worth in the region of $7.5 million with a starting salary of $1 million. This would mean that Gottlieb is in the top-20 highest-paid women’s basketball coaches in the country.
Her deal is believed to be fully guaranteed, meaning she would receive the full remaining amount if USC fired her without cause.
Lindsay Gottlieb Salary
Gottlieb’s estimated salary starts at $1 million per year and reportedly increases by $100,000 annually. Her annual salary is believed to look similar to this:
- 2024-25: $1,000,000
- 2025-26: $1,100,000
- 2026-27: $1,200,000
- 2027-28: $1,300,000
- 2028-29: $1,400,000
- 2029-30: $1,500,000
Lindsay Gottlieb Incentives
While USC has not disclosed her exact bonuses, coaches in her salary range typically receive incentives for team performance, tournament success, and academic achievements. Here are Lindsay Gottlieb’s estimated incentives:
- Conference regular-season championship: $50,000
- Conference tournament championship: $50,000
- NCAA Tournament appearance: $25,000
- Sweet 16 appearance: $50,000
- Elite Eight appearance: $75,000
- Final Four appearance: $100,000
- National Championship win: $200,000
- Conference Coach of the Year: $50,000
- National Coach of the Year: $100,000
- Team GPA above 3.0: $25,000
- Graduation rate above 90%: $25,000
Lindsay Gottlieb Buyout
If USC fires Gottlieb without cause, they owe her the remaining guaranteed salary. Estimated buyout by year:
- 2024-25: $7,500,000
- 2025-26: $6,500,000
- 2026-27: $5,400,000
- 2027-28: $4,200,000
- 2028-29: $2,900,000
- 2029-30: $1,500,000
Conclusion
Lindsay Gottlieb’s contract reflects USC’s commitment to sustaining a top-tier women’s basketball program. With increasing salary, performance-based incentives, and a strong buyout, her job security appears solid—especially with the team’s continued success. A strong tournament run is expected, but will USC come out on top in the end?
