Tommy Lloyd agrees to a new 5-year contract with Arizona

INDIANAPOLIS — Coach Tommy Lloyd has agreed to a new contract with Arizona, he announced Friday.

“I will stay in Arizona,” he said at a news conference on Friday.

After days of vague statements about his future when asked about the opportunity to work at North Carolina State, Lloyd has agreed to a new five-year contract with the school.

“Arizona basketball, you know how much it means to me, and when I say it’s a special place, it always comes from the bottom of my heart,” Lloyd said.

Alluding to rumors of phone calls from Michael Jordan to Lloyd about the Carolina job — which Lloyd said never happened — the 51-year-old expressed his pride in remaining in Tucson.

“I’ve made the decision that my Michael Jordan is my Steve Kerr, and I’m proud to be an Arizona Wildcat,” he said.

According to ESPN sources, Arizona’s new deal with Lloyd will make him one of the five highest-paid coaches in college basketball, starting in 2026-27 at about $7.2 million and averaging $7.5 million over the life of the deal.

The deal also includes significant bonuses and an additional commitment to the employee salary pool. The buyout value is expected to remain significant either way, as the deal is fully guaranteed, and the buyout value to leave for another job, which was $9 million under the old deal, is expected to remain high.

“To me, this is a holistic approach,” Lloyd said. “It’s not just one thing anymore. Arizona basketball needs to become a locomotive that is propelled forward by everything around it.”

Lloyd expressed his appreciation to Athletic Director Desiree Reid-Francois and President Suresh Garimella for their work in approving the deal and anticipating the future of Arizona basketball.

“Tommy Lloyd is the best coach in college basketball, and we have strong belief in the future of Arizona basketball under his leadership,” Reid-Francois said in a statement. “Our program’s success this season – winning championships, competing on the sport’s biggest stage and excelling academically – is a testament to the standard he and his staff have set. He has recruited and developed student-athletes with character who make a positive impact on our team, our campus and our community. Tommy has strengthened our foundation while respecting the tradition that makes Arizona Basketball one of the nation’s premier programs, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead this program at the highest level for years to come.”

“Coach Lloyd has led our men’s basketball program with clarity of purpose and commitment to excellence,” Garimella said in a statement. “Last season was among the best in the history of Arizona athletics, a reflection of the culture he has built and the consistency of the program. He has re-established Arizona basketball as one of the best programs in the country and leads a unified team that performs at the highest levels on the court and in the classroom. I am very pleased that we have reached an agreement to extend his contract and his leadership. We look forward to continued success.”

Arizona players were excited for their head coach.

“I know Coach Lloyd will make the best decision for himself and his career,” senior guard Jaden Bradley said. “I’m excited to have him back in Arizona. I know the fan base is excited too, but I know he’s definitely focused on what’s going on here and I’m very happy for him and his extension.”

“Very happy for the coach,” said new striker Koa Beit. “Tucson loves him. He loves Tucson. … He’s one of the best coaches in the country and he relies on Arizona. That’s very special for us, for sure.”

North Carolina State’s pursuit of Lloyd remained a storyline during the Final Four, with Lloyd refusing to completely reject the Tar Heels’ interest on multiple occasions.

“I’m a simple guy. I only do one thing at a time. I’m not a multi-tasker,” Lloyd said Thursday in his pre-match press conference when asked about the vacancy. “You can ask my wife. So, I’m 100 percent interested in Arizona basketball right now, and I’m excited to see what this team can do. I have a real strong belief in this team and this team deserves my full attention, so that’s what I offer.”

After Arizona’s win over Purdue last weekend, as part of a longer answer about the importance of the Wildcats advancing to the Final Four, Lloyd said, “Arizona will have another good coach after me. I promise you that.”

When asked about those comments on Tuesday, Lloyd reiterated his view.

“This is absolutely true,” he said. “There will be another coach. This is a great program. I haven’t said when.

“People will speculate all they want. Guys, this team has my full focus. Nothing, nothing – I promise you, nothing – gets me out of this way.”

Since arriving at Arizona in 2021, Lloyd has led the Wildcats to three regular season conference championships, two in the Pac-12 and this year’s Big 12 title. They have earned a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in four of their five NCAA Tournament appearances, and have advanced to the Sweet 16 or four other times.

Arizona swept both the regular season and Big 12 conference tournaments this season, advancing to the program’s first Final Four since 2001.

Lloyd is 148-35 in five seasons with Arizona. His 148 victories are the most in NCAA history for a head coach in his first five seasons.

Prior to taking his position at Arizona, Lloyd had been at Gonzaga since 2000, where he served as an assistant coach under Mark Few for 20 seasons. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Tournament every season Lloyd was involved with the program, establishing himself as a top international recruit and one of the premier assistant coaches in college basketball.

Lloyd and Arizona will face top-seeded Michigan in the Final Four on Saturday.

ESPN’s Myron Medcalf contributed to this report.