Hubert Davis buyout, contract details as UNC Tar Heels coach

North Carolina signed men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis to a contract extension last year that runs through the end of the 2029-30 season. A deal that significantly boosts his compensation while also keeping a relatively modest buyout structure in place.

This is important because Davis hasn't warmed up to a portion of the Tar Heels faithful. Will he stay in Chapel Hill through the remainder of his deal? Only time will tell. 

According to a copy of the contract on UNC's website, the agreement was signed in early December after being reached in principle on July 1, 2024. Davis’ base salary increases from $400,000 annually to $1.25 million, a more than treefold raise. His supplemental income also rises sharply, starting at $1.7 million this season and increasing by $100,000 each year for the life of the deal.

Here's everything we know about the specifics of the UNC basketball coach's buyout terms.

Hubert Davis' buyout terms

The buyout language is notable. If the Tar Heels were to move on from Davis before the contract expires, the school would owe only his base salary multiplied by the number of years remaining — not his supplemental income. That distinction keeps the financial cost of a potential coaching change manageable by high-major standards.

For example, if Davis had five years remaining on his deal, the buyout would total $6.25 million. While significant, that figure is far from prohibitive compared to buyouts across the Power Four landscape.

The extension followed a strong 2023-24 season in which Davis led the Tar Heels to their first ACC regular-season championship in five years and earned ACC Coach of the Year honors. It marked his second extension since succeeding Hall of Famer Roy Williams in April 2021. But since then, it's been a difficult road going into February with a 39-18 record dating back to the start of the 2024-25 season.  

Hubert Davis' bonuses

Performance bonuses are built into the new contract. Davis earns $50,000 for a conference regular season title and another $50,000 for a conference tournament championship. An NCAA Tournament berth is worth $100,000, with escalating bonuses that include $150,000 for a Sweet 16 appearance, $200,000 for an Elite Eight or Final Four run, and $250,000 for winning the national championship.

Davis previously received a new deal after guiding UNC to the national championship game in 2022, highlighted by a historic Final Four win over Duke — the tobacco road rivals’ only NCAA Tournament meeting. That momentum stalled the following season when the Tar Heels, despite entering the year as the preseason No. 1 team, missed the NCAA Tournament entirely.

While the extension shows institutional confidence from athletic director Bubba Cunningham and others, the buyout terms ensure flexibility, if UNC takes a dive in the second half of the season. It's a balance that reflects both Davis’ accomplishments and the heightened expectations that come with the job in Chapel Hill.

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