JR Payne Stays in Boulder, Buffs Hoops Soar

0:00On March 5, Colorado Buffalo's Women's Basketball Coach, J.R. Payne, is staying put in boulder. She just signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2031 season. Along with that, she got a raise of $100,000 per year, boosting her salary to $830,000 annually. Earlier this week, athletic director Fernando Lovo locked in the deal after a short review. Payne was already the second longest ten-year coach in program history, with her previous deal set to end in 2028. In her tenth season at the helm, Payne has built a solid record of 184 wins against 126 losses. She's guided the team to three NCAA tournaments, including back-to-back sweet 16 appearances in 2023 and 2024. The Buffalo's recently finished their fifth straight twenty-win season, matching a rare program milestone last achieved in the 1990s. Payne turned a struggling Pac-12 squad into a national force, peaking at number three in the AP poll during the 2023-20.

1:02Twenty-four campaign. Her impact shows in the pro's too, with former players like Forward, Maya Hollingshed, going eighth overall in the 2022 WNBA draft and guard. J.L.N. Sherrod becoming the first Buffalo to claim a league title as a rookie. This extension signals more big things ahead for Colorado Hoops.