UNCW deal with C.B. McGrath: 5 years, $1.5 million plus incentives

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — UNCW will save a little money on its new men’s basketball coach.

The contract C.B. McGrath signed to take over the Seahawk program pays him a base salary of $300,000 a year for five years. McGrath can also earn supplemental pay starting with a $100,000 bonus for his first year as coach. The amount goes up $25,000 each year after that, but in years 2-5, the extra money is tied to McGrath’s TV and radio shows, Seahawk Club/Alumni Association event appearances and following university, CAA and NCAA rules.

Read C.B. McGrath’s full contract

McGrath’s pay package is less than Kevin Keatts, who was making about $500,000 in base salary and supplemental compensation before leaving for NC State last month.

UNCW trustees this morning approved hiring McGrath, who has spent 18 years as an assistant under Roy Williams, including the last 14 at North Carolina.

McGrath can earn even more through various incentives goals including:

• $10,000 for APR annual score over 960
• $15,000 for each NCAA post-season tournament game played
• $25,000 for a regular season CAA conference championship (including a tie)
• $25,000 for a CAA Tournament Championship
• $15,000 for a top 100 RPI on Selection Sunday
• 20 percent of UNCW’s season tickets sales revenue in excess of $250,000

Like Keatts, McGrath would have to pay to leave UNCW before his contract runs out. The buyout is $300,000 in years 1 or 2 of the deal and $200,000 in any of the final three years.

If UNCW fires McGrath without cause, it owes him the remainder of his base salary due under the contract.

McGrath’s contract expires March 31, 2022.