Compensation Landscape
The latest compensation data for the 2026‑27 season paints a vivid picture of economic disparity between the Mountain West and the Pac‑12, two conferences that have long competed on the court but now also diverge on the balance sheet.
At the top of the Pac‑12, Mark Few commands a salary of $3.028 million, positioning him as the conference’s highest‑paid coach, while San Diego State’s Brian Dutcher follows with $2.6 million. In contrast, the Mountain West’s apex is occupied by Grand Canyon’s Bryce Drew, who is slated to earn $1.726 million, a figure that still falls short of the Pac‑12 leaders but eclipses many of its peers.
The spread is further emphasized by the median figures: the Mountain West reports a median salary of $875,000, modestly above the Pac‑12’s $850,000 median, yet the average coach in the Pac‑12 earns nearly $300,000 more than his Mountain West counterpart, $1.257 million versus $959,223.
Four coaches in each conference surpass the $1 million threshold, a milestone that underscores the growing financial muscle of the Pac‑12 while the Mountain West’s lower tier remains anchored by Texas State’s Terrence Johnson, whose earnings sit just above $300,000. The gap is stark enough that Few earns roughly seven times more than Johnson.
Contract adjustments also reflect the shifting landscape; New Mexico’s Eric Olen saw his salary rise to $1.35 million, while UNLV’s Josh Pastner’s deal was bumped to $1 million. These moves illustrate a trend of incremental raises aimed at retaining coaching talent amid increasing competition for resources.
Beyond the numbers, the disparity influences recruiting, facility investments, and overall program sustainability, suggesting that the financial chasm may widen unless conference leadership addresses the underlying economic imbalances.