Richard Pitino Net Worth 2025: How Much Money Does New Mexico’s Coach Make?

What is Richard Pitino’s Net Worth?

Richard Pitino, the head coach of the New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball team, has an estimated net worth of $6 million as of 2025. Pitino has forged a respectable career over two decades in college basketball, transitioning from an assistant coach under legendary figures to leading his own programs at schools like FIU, Minnesota, and now New Mexico. His fortune reflects both the longevity of his coaching career and recent successes with the Lobos.

Career Journey and Early Coaching Days

Pitino began his coaching career on the sidelines of college basketball powerhouses like Louisville and Florida, learning under icons such as Billy Donovan and his father, Rick Pitino. Like many young assistants, his early career earnings were modest, reportedly hovering around $50,000 annually while he honed his craft.

In 2013, Pitino landed his first high-profile head coaching role at Minnesota, where he made approximately $2.4 million per year at the peak of his tenure.

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Current Contract at New Mexico

Since joining the University of New Mexico in 2021, Pitino has been tasked with rebuilding a once-proud program. His leadership has been a resounding success, culminating in the Lobos’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014 during the 2023-24 season. As a reward, Pitino signed a contract extension in May 2024 that runs through the 2028-29 season.

For the 2024-25 NCAA season, Pitino will earn a total of $1.2 million, which is broken down into:

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• $400,000 base salary
• $400,000 for media duties
• $400,000 for program promotion

His deal also includes incremental raises that will see his salary rise to approximately $1.4 million by the end of the contract.

Performance Bonuses and Incentives

In addition to his base compensation, Pitino’s contract includes several performance incentives:

• $25,000 bonus for winning the Mountain West regular-season title
• $10,000 bonus for securing an NCAA Tournament berth
• $100,000 bonus for a national title
• $10,000 per NCAA Tournament win
• Additional bonuses tied to academic metrics such as APR scores and personal accolades like Mountain West Coach of the Year.

Public Sentiment and Grounded Perspective

While his father Rick Pitino has joked about being “overpaid” at St. John’s, Richard has taken a more measured approach. In a recent interview, he mentioned how he tries not to get “out of whack” with the financial side of his job, instead focusing on the growth of the program and community engagement in Albuquerque.

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