Contract information released for Arkansas assistants

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas men’s basketball coaching staff is set to make a record $4.95 million during the 2023-24 season.

The total salary figure is higher than in the past due, in part, to new NCAA legislation that went into effect in July that allowed coaching staffs to increase from three assistants to five.

Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman is set to make $4.2 million this season after receiving $100,000 increases for the program’s NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023. Musselman signed a contract in April 2021 worth $4 million with increases built in for tournament appearances. 

Four of Musselman’s assistant coaches — Anthony Ruta, Michael Musselman, Todd Lee and Ronnie Brewer — will be paid $554,000 in combined annual salary, according to offer letters obtained Wednesday through a Freedom of Information Act request. All of the offer letters were signed between Oct. 23-25.

Third-year assistant coach Keith Smart has been working on a contract that pays $200,000, according to records. 

Ruta, in his fifth season at Arkansas and second as an assistant coach, will be paid an annual salary of $184,000, according to his letter. He served as director of basketball operations in his first three seasons.

Michael Musselman, Eric Musselman’s oldest son, will make $150,000, according to his letter. He also holds the title of director of recruiting.

Lee, a former head coach at South Dakota who is entering his second season with the Razorbacks, will be paid a salary of $120,000, per his letter. Prior to being elevated to assistant coach, Lee served as director of scouting and assistant to the head coach.

Brewer, an All-SEC performer at Arkansas who had a lengthy career in the NBA, will be paid $100,000, according to his letter. A lottery pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Brewer has also served as the Razorbacks’ recruiting coordinator since his hiring in July 2021.

In addition to the basketball contracts, an updated contract for Arkansas baseball coach Nate Thompson was discovered Wednesday. Thompson, a seventh-year hitting coach and recruiting coordinator, had his contract extended through 2025 and will be paid $300,000 in the upcoming season.

Matt Jones contributed