How much Kentucky basketball increased staff pay to hire new assistant K.T. Turner

LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball’s offseason investment in John Calipari’s coaching staff continued with the hire of K.T. Turner from Oklahoma.

Turner, who was hired as Jai Lucas’s replacement in May, will be paid $500,000 next season, according to the term sheet he signed upon accepting the job. The document was obtained by The Courier Journal through an open records request.

That salary represents a 67% increase from Lucas’s $300,000 Kentucky salary last season. Had Lucas stayed at Kentucky instead of accepting a position on John Scheyer’s first Duke staff in April, he would have been in line for a new contract as his previous deal was set to expire in June, but it is unclear what financial commitment it took to lure Lucas to Duke since as a private school Duke is not required to release its coaches’ salaries.

Kentucky basketball recruiting: Why K.T. Turner could be vital to UK’s transfer portal work

Turner’s Kentucky salary increases by $25,000 per year in each of the three years of the deal. His contract is set to expire after the 2024-25 season.

At Oklahoma last season, Turner was paid $400,000, according to the OU Daily.

Earlier this offseason, Kentucky awarded assistant Chin Coleman a raise and contract extension amid reported interest from Missouri. Coleman’s new contract combined with Turner’s deal and a scheduled $25,000 raise for associate coach Orlando Antigua amounts to a $300,000 increase in salaries for Calipari’s three full-time assistant coaches from last season.

Turner’s deal also includes a $25,000 bonus for Kentucky reaching the Final Four and a $50,000 bonus for winning a national championship. The bonuses are not cumulative, so Turner would be entitled to only the largest one earned each year.

UK basketball: John Calipari is making sure fans don’t forget about Daimion Collins this summer

Turner would owe Kentucky $100,000 per year left on the contract if he left the school for another assistant coaching job. The buyout is waived if he is hired as a head coach at the collegiate or professional level.

Story continues

The new contract was enough to entice Turner to Lexington, two years after he first spoke with Calipari about a position on the Wildcats’ staff. At that time, Calipari was looking for an off-court recruiting coordinator — the position that eventually went to Lucas — but Turner wanted to stay in an on-court coaching position that would allow him to travel on the road to recruit.

“The timing just wasn’t right (then), but it was right this time,” Turner said.

Email Jon Hale at [email protected]; Follow him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ. 

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: K.T. Turner salary, contract details