STILLWATER – While Brad Underwood receives a substantial raise by taking the Oklahoma State basketball job, he is expected to be the Big 12’s lowest-paid coach.

While former Cowboy coach Travis Ford was paid $2.4 million for the 2015-16 season, it is believed that Underwood agreed to the terms of a five-year OSU contract worth between $1 million and $1.5 million annually. Iowa State’s Steve Prohm was paid $1.5 million this season. If not at least equal to Prohm’s, Underwood’s compensation would be less than the pay of any other conference coach.

OSU athletic director Mike Holder indicated that some aspects of the Underwood contract should be released on Thursday. At Stephen F. Austin, Underwood was paid $400,000 this season.

Holder describes the 52-year-old Underwood as having been “clearly, absolutely, no question the No. 1 candidate.” Relative to Ford’s pay, Holder got the coach he wanted at a savings of roughly $1 million a year.

Bill Haisten 918-581-8397 bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.