March is a glorious month. Not only does March 20 mark the first day of spring, many illustrious holidays are also celebrated, including National Peanut Month, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) and the ever-popular “I am in Control” day (March 30).

March is also a month filled with madness. That’s right, today officially kicks off March Madness, or the men’s college basketball championship tournament. All eyes will be on the teams as they fight their way to the Final Four.

Regardless of how their teams fare, many coaches will be just fine, at least salary-wise. According to data compiled by USA Today and its sources (including ESPN), 31 coaches earned at least $1 million this year. We took the top 10 highest-paid college basketball coaches and their salaries, and looked at how much they make per game* and what the median household income is in their state**:

1. John Calipari, University of Kentucky
Annual salary: $4 million
Salary per game: $133,333
Kentucky median household income: $42,302

2. Tom Izzo, Michigan State University
Annual salary: $3.5 million
Salary per game: $116,667
Michigan median household income: $46,597

3. Billy Donovan, University of Florida
Annual salary: $3.5 million
Salary per game: $116,667
Florida median household income: $45,313

4. Bill Self, University of Kansas
Annual salary: $3 million
Salary per game: $100,000
Kansas median household income: $45,842

5. Rick Pitino, University of Louisville
Annual salary: $2.5 million
Salary per game: $83,333
Kentucky median household income: $42,302

6. Thad Matta, Ohio State University
Annual salary: $2.5 million
Salary per game: $83,333
Ohio median household income: $46,364

7. Rick Barnes, University of Texas
Annual salary: $2.4 million
Salary per game: $80,000
Texas median household income: $47,862

8. Mike Krzyzewsko, Duke University
Annual salary: $2.4 million
Salary per game: $80,000
North Carolina median household income: $43,175

9. Jim Calhoun, University of Connecticut
Annual salary: $2.3 million
Salary per game: $76,667
Connecticut median household income: $66,187

10. Sean Miller, University of Arizona
Annual salary: $2.3 million
Salary per game: $76,667
Arizona median household income: $46,886

Not only do these coaches rake in hefty salaries, according to Forbes, some earn supplemental income from TV, radio and endorsements. Yet the position does come with pressure. Forbes also notes that unlike the NBA, with college basketball, the coach is the program. Colleges put a lot of stress on their coaches to deliver for both fans and alumni alike. In addition to attending games and practices, coaches are also held accountable for sponsorship commitments, media appearances and alumni fundraising.

So while these college basketball coaches’ salaries may seem high, if they can lead their teams to victory, most fans would say they deserve every penny.

Do you think college basketball coaches deserve these high-paying salaries? Weigh in here:

*We know the number of games can vary depending on each school’s tournament success, so we rounded to 30.

**Median household income based on 2009-2010 Census Bureau data.

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