After Alabama basketball punched its ticket to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year Thursday, the Crimson Tide rewarded one of the program’s main architects. Preston Murphy’s new contract was approved by UA’s board of trustees compensation committee, giving the assistant coach a substantial raise.

Murphy will make $675,000 per year under the new deal, which took effect March 24. The contract runs through April 30, 2027.

Head coach Nate Oats praised Murphy’s contributions earlier in March, when asked how he was dealing with the transfer portal opening while still playing the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s a good thing for me that I’ve got one of the best assistants in the country in Preston Murphy,” Oats said as the Tide prepared for its first-round matchup with Robert Morris. “He’s handling all the– I’m currently just locked into trying to win some games. I think the best thing you can do in recruiting is currently win games and show them you develop talent. I don’t want our current guys thinking about anything other than winning games. That’s what we’re locked into now.

“​​We obviously have to run a program and field a team that can be back here next year, and Preston is working on that, but he’s in charge of personnel. He’s done a good job on the scouting report. He’s got these guys ready, and he’s also spending some time on doing some of that stuff.”

Murphy previously made $450,000 per year under his original contract. He joined the Crimson Tide in July of 2023, and serves as UA’s de facto GM, focusing on recruiting and other personnel moves in addition to his on-court duties.

The new contract for Murphy includes incentives based on postseason performance, with a one-month salary bonus for an SEC championship. He can make anywhere from 8% of his salary for a NCAA Tournament appearance up to 18% of his yearly salary should Alabama win a national title, though those bonuses do not stack.

Alabama will have a chance to make its second consecutive Final Four on Saturday, when it faces Duke in the Elite Eight. Murphy’s was one of 17 new athletics contracts approved by the compensation committee on Friday, but his was the lone basketball deal.

The Crimson Tide and Blue Devils are scheduled to tip off at 7:49 p.m. CT Saturday in Newark. The game will be aired on either TBS or TruTV.