Bearcats and Buyouts
Below is the contract and buyout status for Scott Satterfield and Wes Miller.
Miller received a two year contract extension during his second season (December 14, 2022). The extension came four days after a home loss to Xavier in the Crosstown Shootout. UC was 6-4 at the time. The Bearcats had gone 18-15 overall, 7-11 in the American, in his debut season. They lost 6 of 7 and 8 of 10 to close his debut season.
The extension upped Miller’s average annual salary from $1.31 million under the original contract to an average annual salary of $2.95 million.
Miller’s remaining contract: $13M
2025: $3.1M
2026: $3.2M
2027: $3.3M**
2028: $3.4M**
**Extension years
Miller buyout owed:
If UC moved on from him before March 31
2026: $9.9M
2027: $4.69M
2028: $1M
2029: $500K
(Per The Athletic)
Satterfield’s remaining contract: $11.7M
2026: $3.8M
2027: $3.9M
2028: $4.0M
Satterfield buyout owed:
If UC moves on from him between now and the end of his contract, he is owed 70% of his remaining pay. (Per The Boardroom)
Today: $8.19M
After 2026: $5.53M
After 2027: $2.8M
John Cunningham
According to Justin Williams (The Athletic), Cunningham received a contract extension in August of 2023. His original deal, through December 31, 2024, was extended through June 30, 2028.
The extension, approved by the Board of Trustees in April 2023, included an initial salary increase from $475,000 to $650,000 starting July 1, 2023. Cunningham’s salary then increased by $25,000 annually up to $750,000 for the 2027-28 academic year.
Cunningham buyout owed:
Before June 30, 2026: $3.2M
Before June 30, 2027: $1.6M
Before June 30, 2028: $900K
Cunningham also fired basketball coach John Brannen for cause, and the university paid out $2.75M to Brannen as a settlement.
