​P.J. Thompson’s promotion to Purdue men’s basketball associate head coach came with a substantial salary increase, marking a notable step in his coaching trajectory. According to the 2026-27 salary listings released by the university, Thompson will earn $600,000 annually, up from $400,000 previously. Purdue announced the promotion in April, a move that aligns with the broader pattern in coaching where promotions are often accompanied by raises. Such raises can reflect both recognition of a coach’s performance and interest from other programs, which has been a factor in Thompson’s career as he has turned down several opportunities in recent years.
A product of Brebeuf and a former Purdue point guard, Thompson has risen quickly since returning to the program in 2019 as a graduate assistant after a brief professional stint. In his current role, he coordinates the offense, which last season recorded the best adjusted efficiency score in the history of KenPom’s metrics. His impact extends to the development of players such as Braden Smith, the current Pacers point guard who finished his college career as the NCAA’s all-time assists leader.
Within Matt Painter’s coaching staff, the salary updates also reflect broader changes. Paul Lusk received a raise from $475,000 to $525,000, while veteran assistant Brandon Brantley increased from $500,000 to $525,000. Sasha Stefanovic’s compensation rose from $150,000 to $200,000, and first-year assistant Kenneth Lowe will also make $200,000. Collectively, the assistant coach payroll now stands at $2.05 million, up from $1.85 million. The university has not yet released other new contract details for the remaining assistants beyond Lowe.
On the head coach front, Painter is slated to earn a base salary of $4.325 million, plus a $300,000 supplemental retirement contribution and a $300,000 life insurance premium. He also stands to receive a $250,000 retention bonus if he remains employed on Sept. 1, which would bring his total potential compensation to $5.175 million. This cluster of financial details underlines Purdue’s commitment to sustaining a competitive program and recognizing the contributions of its coaching staff, including Thompson’s elevated role.
This information originally appeared in coverage from the Indianapolis Star, highlighting how P.J. Thompson’s promotion to Purdue’s associate head coach came with a pronounced salary increase, reflecting both his performance and the program’s broader talent strategy. The updated figures emphasize Purdue’s ongoing efforts to retain top assistants who can influence program success on the court and contribute to the program’s long-term stability and competitiveness.