DEAL ACCEPTED: Sam Cassell Leaves Boston Celtics to Become Wisconsin Badgers Head Coach in Record $93.4 Million Contract
By Jeremy Roth | ESPN College Basketball Insider
July 16, 2025 – Madison, WI / Boston, MA
In one of the most shocking and unprecedented moves in college basketball history, Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell has accepted a staggering $93.4 million deal to become the new head coach of the University of Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team, sources confirmed to ESPN late Tuesday night.
The 10-year contract, which averages $9.34 million annually, makes Cassell not only the highest-paid coach in Wisconsin athletics history, but the richest contract ever awarded to a college basketball coach. It catapults the Badgers into national headlines and signals a dramatic shift in the school’s investment in its basketball future.
Cassell, 55, is expected to be formally introduced in Madison on Thursday at the Kohl Center, where renovations are already underway to accommodate what insiders are calling the “Cassell Era.”
The former NBA champion and longtime Celtics assistant is walking away from an Eastern Conference powerhouse in Boston to rebuild a once-proud Wisconsin program that has fallen into mediocrity in recent years. The Badgers haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2022 and finished last season at a disappointing 14–18.
So why did Cassell take the leap — and the record-setting money?
> “This isn’t just about dollars,” a source close to Cassell told ESPN. “This is about legacy. It’s about the chance to be the face of a program, to build something permanent, to change lives. Sam’s ready to lead. And Wisconsin gave him the keys to the castle.”
Cassell’s hiring ends a chaotic search that began after the departure of Greg Gard in March. Wisconsin originally pursued high-profile names such as Scott Drew (Baylor) and Dusty May (Michigan), but Cassell emerged as a “visionary candidate” during a private meeting in early July with AD Chris McIntosh and university president Jay Rothman.
> “He had a plan,” one UW official said. “He didn’t just want to win — he wanted to elevate every part of the program: recruiting, facilities, culture. His presentation felt like a blueprint for a dynasty.”
Cassell’s résumé includes three NBA titles as a player, a reputation as a guard whisperer, and over a decade of experience on NBA benches. He’s widely credited with helping develop stars like John Wall, De’Aaron Fox, and more recently, Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown.
Reaction from Boston was swift and supportive.
> “He’s ready,” Celtics coach Charles Lee told ESPN. “It’s bittersweet for us, but this is the right job at the right time. Wisconsin’s about to level up.”
Cassell will bring with him a hand-picked staff, including former NBA player Mo Williams and top college recruiter Rasheed Thomas. His first recruiting win may come sooner than expected: five-star 2026 point guard Tyrell Harmon, who decommitted from Michigan State on Tuesday, is rumored to be leaning toward Madison following Cassell’s hire.
The Badgers are betting big — historically big — on Sam Cassell. And now, all eyes are on Madison to see if this bold, billion-dollar-energy move can rewrite the future of Wisconsin basketball.
Let me know if you’d like a fictional reaction article from Wisconsin alumni, fans, or even Celtics players.
