The Coaching Carousel for college basketball is a series where we break down contracts and candidates. You can read more about it here or dive deeper into Chris Mack or Travis Steele profiles.
As March Madness approaches, patience thins across college basketball. Fan bases grow restless, donors start asking questions, and athletic directors quietly prepare for movement. One coach who will find himself squarely in this year’s carousel is UNC Wilmington head coach Takayo Siddle.
At 39, Siddle checks nearly every box search committees look for. He is a young riser, a former student-athlete at Gardner-Webb, a relentless recruiter, and a coach whose teams play an aggressive, modern style of basketball.
Most importantly, he wins.
Outside of the COVID-impacted season, Siddle has consistently cleared the 20-win mark and currently sits two wins away from making it six seasons in a row. He has done it at a program that is not traditionally viewed as a power in college basketball, which only strengthens his candidacy when openings emerge.
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Takayo Siddle Contract Snapshot
Term: April 2025 through April 14, 2030
Base Salary: $300,000 annually (flat through 2030)
Supplemental Compensation: $550,000 annually (tied to promotional appearances, foundation and fundraising events)
Total Compensation: $850,000 annually
Since taking over in 2020, Siddle has received three addendums that function more like incremental extensions than full renegotiations. UNC Wilmington has steadily rewarded performance while maintaining its own cost (un)certainty.
One notable wrinkle in the contract is tied to ticket sales. Siddle earns:
- $5,000 for every 2,000 season tickets sold
- $10,000 if 2,500 season tickets are sold
These bonuses are not cumulative, but they represent a rare example of a mid-major coach being directly incentivized on season ticket revenue generation.
Takayo Siddle Buyout
If Siddle leaves for another job, his buyout is a flat $550,000. There is no de-escalator, and payment is due within 60 days.
At first glance, that number may feel high for a low-to-mid-major program. Especially since we just looked at Travis Steele’s buyout of $150,000. In context, it is still modest compared to power conference buyouts that routinely reach seven figures. For a high-major school that recently paid millions to part ways with its previous coach, $550,000 is hardly a deterrent.
From UNC Wilmington’s perspective, the structure is a win. Securing roughly half a million dollars would provide a meaningful financial cushion for a coaching search.
In practice, buyouts at this level are often negotiable. Timelines can be extended, offsets can be discussed, or more commonly, the hiring school simply absorbs the cost and adjusts the coach’s year-one compensation accordingly.
If UNC Wilmington were to terminate Siddle without cause, the university would owe his base salary on a prorated basis through 2030. Emphasis here on base salary!
Why Siddle Will Be In Demand
Siddle was heavily pursued during the South Florida search after leading UNC Wilmington to the NCAA Tournament last year and pushing Texas Tech to the brink in the first round. He is positioned to draw even more attention if the Seahawks again reach the 20-win mark in 2025-26. Spoiler Alert: They will.
His teams play fast, pressure the ball, and attack on both ends of the floor. He has also shown an ability to leverage a smaller NIL effectively, building what may be his most talented (and athletic) roster yet this season.
If the carousel spins aggressively in the ACC or across the broader high-major landscape, Siddle is very likely to be part of those conversations.
Track Record And Program Impact
Since taking over in 2020, Siddle has compiled a 106-47 record and led UNC Wilmington back to national relevance. He is the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 wins and the only coach in the Division I era to guide the Seahawks to four consecutive 20-win seasons.
Beyond wins and losses, Siddle has reshaped the identity of the program. UNC Wilmington has become faster, more aggressive, and more nationally visible, all while operating within the constraints of a mid-major budget.
The Carousel Outlook
Even with a buyout that is slightly higher than the mid-major norm, Takayo Siddle is positioned to be one of the more intriguing names in this coaching cycle.
If the right opportunity emerges, the financial barrier is manageable, the résumé is strong, and the trajectory is clear. For UNC Wilmington, the potential sting of losing a successful coach is softened by a $550,000 buyout and a program that is now far more attractive than it was when Siddle arrived.
For search committees, the question is not whether Siddle will be interviewed this spring. It is how far up the ladder he might climb when the carousel starts moving.
