The University of North Carolina is the only team to reach the College World Series twice in the last three years.

Now head coach Scott Forbes, who has led the Tar Heels to the NCAA Tournament in all six of his seasons as coach, has signed a long-term extension to remain in Chapel Hill, the school announced Monday.

Other WRAL Top Stories

Forbes’ new six-year extension will pay him at least $1.2 million in each of the first three years before climbing to $2 million in 2031-32. With bonuses, Forbes could earn as much as $1.7 million in the early years of the deal and up to $2.5 million in the final season.

The figure includes his base salary, supplemental compensation, expenses, a yearly retention bonus and money from Nike.

Under the terms of his 2023 contract, Forbes was paid $290,000 in base salary for the 2025-26 season with a $50,000 retention bonus, the chance to earn up to $370,000 in bonuses and $180,000 from Nike.

Forbes’ salary likely places him among the top-20 highest-paid coaches in the country.

The contract includes $1.555 million for staff salary, not including the program’s strength and conditioning coach, and $1.15 million in operating budget.

“It was a priority for our department to extend Scott’s contract and recognize the tremendous job he and his staff have done leading this program,” UNC athletics director Steve Newmark said in a statement. “They have established Carolina as one of the premier programs in the country.”

Forbes is 254-118-1 as the Tar Heels’ head coach. He has been on the staff since 2006, first as pitching coach and then hitting coach before taking over as head coach for the 2021 season.

Forbes is the latest UNC head coach to receive a big contract. Football coach Bill Belichick signed a five-year, $50-million contract in 2024 and men’s basketball coach Michael Malone signed a six-year contract worth $50 million in April.

The athletics department is seeking approval this week from the UNC Board of Trustees to withdraw $9 million from its “quasi-endowment fund” to address “increasing operational demands and support the athletics financial plan during fiscal year 2027.”