Duke basketball's Mike Krzyzewski credited with $13.7M in compensation in 2020

Former Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski was credited with nearly $13.7 million in total compensation for 2020 during his penultimate season with the Blue Devils according to university records obtained by USA TODAY Sports. 

According to the university's federal tax returns, Krzyzewski had nearly $3.3 million in base salary, $2 million in bonus pay and just over $7.2 million in other reportable compensation.

The total amount also includes nearly $1.3 million that had been reported as deferred pay on prior years’ returns, meaning his net compensation for the year was about $12.4 million. It's the largest single-year pay for a college sports coach not connected to a buyout since USA TODAY Sports began tracking coaches’ pay in 2006. Alabama football coach Nick Saban received $11.1 million in 2017, which included a $4 million signing bonus; that season, Saban added $500,000 in incentive bonuses to that total.

As a private school, Duke is not required to make its employment contracts public. The new document provides no details about the period over which Krzyzewski accrued the previously reported deferred compensation and in what amounts. Krzyzewski, the winningest coach in Division I basketball, retired at the end of last season and was replaced by longtime assistant Jon Scheyer. 

MORE DUKE BASKETBALL:Why Duke basketball assistant Chris Carrawell is Jon Scheyer's biggest champion

RETIREMENT:What does Coach K's retirement look like? New Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer gave us some insight

MORE:UNC basketball ends Duke's run in Final Four, sends Coach K into retirement

"Mike Krzyzewski is the most successful college basketball coach in history whose record and accomplishments will probably never be matched. Coach K’s compensation has always reflected his strong commitment to athletic and academic success for 42 years at Duke, and his extensive and impactful service to the university, the community and the country," Duke spokesman Michael Schoenfeld said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "This report includes a one-time payment of deferred compensation … that was accrued over prior years. It also includes compensation that was paid out in 2020 but was also reported on a prior (return) when it was accrued."

David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.