Inside Kansas basketball assistant coach Tony Bland’s KU contract
· Yahoo Sports
LAWRENCE — Tony Bland’s first season as an assistant coach for Kansas basketball ended recently, with the Jayhawks’ loss in March in the NCAA tournament.
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KU advanced to the round of 32 during March Madness, as a No. 4 seed, before that defeat against St. John’s. Prior to that the Jayhawks had made it to the semifinals of the Big 12 Conference tournament as a No. 3 seed, before a defeat against Houston. And with the NCAA tournament now over, after Michigan’s win in the title game Monday against UConn, the offseason is in full swing for everyone.
But while that offseason focus will have a lot of its energy directed toward recruiting, there was a little revelation this week about Bland’s contract with KU — which brought him on ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season. According to a public records request obtained by The Topeka Capital-Journal on Wednesday, Bland has an employment agreement that is effective as of Jan. 14, 2026. It supersedes any other agreements that he’s made with Kansas Athletics.
Here’s more on the deal:
How long does this agreement last, and can it be extended?
Technically, the first year of this agreement is effective through June 30, 2026. However, following the first year, there will be a one-year rolling term as Bland works at head coach Bill Self’s discretion. That additional year is given annually on July 1, unless the agreement is otherwise terminated.
Bland’s base salary for the first year of his deal is $130,000, which will be paid on a prorated amount from Jan. 14, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
What will Tony Bland make if he remains on Bill Self’s coaching staff?
Starting on July 1, 2026, Bland will begin to make a base salary of $550,000 per year. It’s something the contract notes could be increased from time-to-time upon a review from KU Athletics. Bland arrived at Kansas after a stint as an assistant coach at Washington, and this deal also acknowledges KU will pay Washington up to $207,504 as a result of Bland’s previous contract with Washington being terminated.
What incentive payments can Tony Bland receive?
Winning a Big 12 regular season title earns $25,000, as does a Big 12 tournament title. Appearing in the NCAA tournament also earns $25,000, as does getting to a Sweet 16, as does getting to a Final Four. Win a NCAA title, and that’s $50,000.
These are paid out accumulatively, so as the contract explains, if Kansas wins the Big 12 regular season championship and reaches a Final Four, the total would be $100,000.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: See Kansas basketball assistant coach Tony Bland’s contract with KU