Arizona baseball coach Chip Hale sought longevity over a major pay increase in a contract extension approved by the Arizona Board of Regents this week.

Hale’s annual compensation — not including incentives — rises by only $20,000 over the life of the contract, which ABOR approved during a meeting Thursday afternoon on the UA campus.

The school announced a four-year extension for Hale in June after he led his alma mater to the College World Series. Hale’s original five-year deal was set to expire after the 2026 season. The extension runs through June 30, 2030.

“He’s a winner, but he does so with a grace, an authenticity and a deep humility,” UA athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois told the board Thursday. “He’s also a leader. He’s a leader of young men. He’s a leader in this athletic department. He’s a great partner.

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“He’s a graduate of the University of Arizona, a very proud graduate of the University of Arizona. … He’s a great representative of our institution. His teams not only win, they not only lead, but they also succeed academically. They have a 3.14 GPA. He cares about his student-athletes like you would not believe.”

Arizona coach Chip Hale goes over the ground rules with the umpiring crew and Central Arizona coach Sean Cashman before first pitch Oct. 25, 2025, at Hi Corbett Field.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star

Hale was set to make $520,000 for 2025-26 — and will make that same amount under the new contract, although the money is allocated differently.

In the original deal, Hale had a base salary of $455,000 for 2025-26 and received $65,000 from Nike. Now his base salary is $350,000 plus $170,000 in “additional-duties compensation.”

Hale’s base salary remains the same each year: $350,000. The additional-duties compensation is $170,000 each of the first two years, $180,000 the next two years and $190,000 the final year.

Hale’s average salary of $528,000 is less than half of what the 15th-highest-paid coach in college baseball makes (Oklahoma’s Skip Johnson, $1.28 million), according to Baseball America.

“I just want to continue what we’re doing,” Hale said. “Obviously we got to Omaha. Get the staff all finalized, too. That’s a hard thing these days. … So just continue on, get better.”

Arizona head coach Chip Hale greets his Wildcats during the introductions before UA’s game against Hermosillo in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Oct. 2, 2025, at Kino Stadium.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star

Per contract terms posted in ABOR’s executive meeting summary, “the payment of additional-duties compensation reflects Hale’s expanding role as a public ambassador for the program, Arizona Athletics and the broader university community.” It includes “public and internal engagement obligations” such as:

– Participation in coach’s shows as necessary/requested

– Public appearances, including Wildcat caravans, donor events, university and department events and key donor/alumni events

– Community and campus appearances, including in classrooms and at civic events

– Participation in marketing and brand campaigns across digital and social platforms and other non-gameday media opportunities

Hale’s extension also includes incentives that are capped at $250,000 per athletic year, up from $160,000 in the original deal. They are as follows:

– Conference regular-season champion: $25,000

– Conference tournament champion: $15,000

– NCAA national champion: $200,000

– College World Series: $100,000

– NCAA Super Regionals: $25,000

– NCAA regionals: $15,000

– Conference Coach of the Year: $15,000

– National Coach of the Year: $15,000

Hale earned $65,000 in incentives this past season.

Additionally, the contract extension includes termination clauses and offset language should Hale, who turns 61 on Dec. 2, be fired and/or take another job.

Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social

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