UTEP Basketball: Baker Gets Raise, Golding Finalizes Deal

Alas, we can talk about some new UTEP basketball contracts.

The athletic department made it official on Thursday when they announced a two-year contract extension for women's basketball head coach Kevin Baker, along with a five-year deal for men's basketball coach Joe Golding.

Baker's base salary was previously $240,000 and now has risen to $240,000 per year. He is now tied with the Miners through the 2024 season.

The Miners finished second in the West Division last year, which included a 13-5 Conference USA record and wrapped up 17-8 overall. The squad made it to the C-USA semiinals for the first time in five seasons.

“I am excited to reward Coach Baker with an extension to his contract,” Senter said in a release. “He deserves it and continues to show progress in leading our women's basketball program. We have high expectations for this program and know that the future is bright under his leadership.”

“I am thrilled about my job and I love coming to work every day,” Baker said in a release. “I absolutely love El Paso and consider this my home. I work with an amazing staff and our players are a pleasure to coach. So, this contract extension means the world to me. Being the head coach at UTEP is such an amazing honor and it is one I never take lightly. I am so proud to work for an athletic director and an administration that believes in what we are doing. My coaching staff and I have done some great things in the last few years but we all believe the best is yet to come.”

First-year men’s basketball head coach Joe Golding signed a five-year contract that has a base salary of $400,000 and a $300,000 provision for speaking engagements and coaches show, which equals to an annual salary of $700,000, including performance-based incentives.

“It has taken us a while to get this new contract for Coach Golding completed,” Senter said in a release. “I feel confident that he is being fairly compensated and is at the upper echelon of Conference USA men's coaches with his salary and performance incentives. We are excited to see what Joe can do to return Miner Basketball to national prominence and compete for and win C-USA Championships.”

“I’m excited it’s (the contract) done and all that’s behind us now,” Golding said in a release. “From the get-go, all I wanted was to be the head coach of UTEP. Now it’s official, let’s get to work and go Miners!”