(WFRV) – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and women’s basketball head coach Kayla Karius have agreed to a contract extension that will keep her with the program through the 2034-35 season.
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In just two seasons at the helm, the Sheboygan native has led the Phoenix to a 54-15 overall record, including a dominant 36-4 mark in conference play. Karius has guided Green Bay to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, earned Horizon League Coach of the Year honors, and continued the program’s winning standard with consecutive regular season and conference tournament championships.
“Coach Karius continues to carry on the legacy of excellence that defines UW-Green Bay Women’s Basketball,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “Everything she does is carried out with the utmost class. We are proud to have her as an alumna carrying on the standard that she set as a player and now a coach UW-Green Bay. I am excited to see what she will accomplish in the years ahead!”
This marks Karius’ second contract extension since being hired in April of 2024. She previously signed an extension last March that would have kept her in Green Bay through the 2030-31 season. Now, just a year later, the latest deal pushes that timeline to 2034-35, providing long-term stability for the program and marking the longest head coaching contract currently in college basketball.
“We are thrilled that Kayla will be leading the Phoenix long into the future,” said Mark Murphy Endowed Director of Athletics Josh Moon. “She has done an amazing job since her arrival two years ago and truly embodies The Green Bay Way in every aspect of her leadership. We are excited to watch her continue to build on the rich tradition of this program and take us to new heights in the years ahead.”
That success comes with a significant raise. Beginning in April 2026, Karius will earn $240,000 annually as UW-Green Bay’s head women’s basketball coach. She is also eligible to receive an additional $50,000 each year through foundation funds, pending availability and approval within the athletic department’s budget. Any future raises tied to UW System or state pay plans would apply to her base salary, while all other terms of the original contract remain unchanged.
The deal also outlines buyout terms if either side moves on. If UW-Green Bay terminates Karius without cause, the payout decreases over time. It would start at three times her annual salary if it occurs before March 31, 2030, dropping to two times between 2030 and 2033, and one year’s salary between 2033 and 2035. If the contract extends beyond 2035, the university would only owe the remaining salary for that final year.
If Karius leaves on her own, she must provide written notice, and the university would stop paying her at that point. However, if she accepts another Division I job before the contract expires, she would owe UW-Green Bay a buyout that would be three times her salary if she leaves prior to the Friday after the 2030 national title game, two times before 2033, and one year’s salary before 2035. If the deal extends beyond 2035, the buyout would be set at $100,000.
The agreement also includes a commitment from UW-Green Bay to support revenue sharing and name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for the women’s basketball program. The university will use a combination of ticket revenue, sponsorships, and foundation funds to help provide competitive resources at the mid-major level each year. Karius will play a key role in determining how those funds are distributed, with final approval coming from the athletic director.
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“Thank you Chancellor Alexander and Josh Moon for your belief in me, our staff, and our program,” added Karius. “Our administration continues to step up and show their support for Green Bay women’s basketball! In the current landscape of college basketball, stability is rare. This is a destination school for players and for coaches. I fell in love with this program as a young girl and want nothing more than to see it flourish. My family and I are proud to show recruits, current student-athletes, and fans that Green Bay is home!”
This extension will keep Karius under contract through March 31, 2035, while also including provisions that could lengthen the deal even further. If either the university’s current chancellor or athletic director leaves before that date, the contract will automatically add one year for each departure, up to a maximum of two additional years. The agreement also allows for further extensions beyond that point if both sides choose to continue the partnership under new terms.
