New USF men’s basketball coach Bryan Hodgson will make $1.25 million in his first season with the Bulls, about three times more than his previous annual salary at Arkansas State. 

Hodgson, 38, signed a six-year, $8.25 million contract with USF, according to records obtained by The Oracle. 

He will make $500,000 in base salary next season with an additional $750,000 in compensation for promotional activities and media appearances. That additional compensation increases by $50,000 each year of the deal. 

His salary tops out at $1.5 million in 2031, barring extension. 

USF paid $900,000 to the Red Wolves Foundation – Arkansas State’s nonprofit which supports student-athletes – to buyout Hodgson’s contract. 

And it nearly had to pay more. 

The extension Hodgson signed in January also increased his buyout to $1 million. It would’ve gone into effect on April 1 – a week after USF hired him.

Similarly, USF paid a $488,120 buyout to Kennesaw State when it hired Amir Abdur-Rahim in 2023. 

Related: Bryan Hodgson to lead USF men’s basketball five months after tragedy

Hodgson signed a six-year contract at Arkansas State in 2023 for a base salary of $385,000.  He received two contract extensions, and the latest one he signed in January would have bumped his annual pay to $675,000. 

The Bulls hired Hodgson from Arkansas State on March 24 to permanently fill Abdur-Rahim’s role. USF had a record-setting 25 wins in 2023. 

Abdur-Rahim died unexpectedly last October, weeks before his second season as head coach tipped off. The Bulls went just 13-19 under interim coach Ben Fletcher last season. 

“I’m fortunate enough to be taking over a program with a strong foundation, tradition and history of winning,” Hodgson said at his introductory press conference. 

Hodgson was just two years into his six-year deal when USF hired him away from the Red Wolves. The Bulls had to foot the rest of the bill. 

The Bulls gave $50,000 in relocation assistance for Hodgson to make the move from Arkansas to Florida, including 60 days of paid temporary housing. 

He’ll also have an $800 vehicle stipend and a country club membership for “supporting University advancement.” 

Hodgson will owe USF $2 million if he terminates the deal on or before April 15, 2027. That amount is cut in half after that date if Athletics Director Michael Kelly leaves USF. 

Related: USF makes Abdur-Rahim among AAC’s highest paid men’s basketball coaches for the next season

In comparison, former coach Amir Abdur-Rahim signed a six-year, $7.35 million contract in 2023. His annual salary was $1.1 million, excluding bonuses, in his lone season leading the Bulls. 

USF extended Abdur-Rahim’s contract just four months before his death. He would’ve earned $1.8 million last season. 

Hodsgson’s first-year pay is also more than what former coach Brian Gregory earned in his first season at USF. Gregory’s salary was $1 million in 2017, excluding bonuses. He was fired in 2023 after four straight losing seasons.  

Hodgson will have the opportunity to pad his salary with performance bonuses. 

He’ll earn $20,000 for winning 20 games or more in a season. That bumps to $25,000 with 25 wins – which would match the Bulls’ record win total set under Abdur-Rahim. 

Hodgson would also rake in $25,000 for a regular season conference title or tournament championship. He’d also earn that amount for an at-large NCAA tournament berth. 

The Bulls haven’t made a March Madness appearance since 2012. 

“Myself, my family and my staff are ready to start a new chapter, and we will bring that brand of blue-collar, up-tempo basketball with us to South Florida,” Hodgson said.