JR Payne extends contract with Colorado through 2031
- Jake Chau
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The House of Payne will stay standing, as the University of Colorado Boulder extended head coach JR Payne’s contract on Wednesday.
Payne is in her 10th season as women’s basketball head coach and will remain so for at least another five years, through the 2031 season, by unanimous vote of the CU Board of Regents. Payne has led her team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in two of her last three seasons, including five consecutive 20-win seasons, a streak that is only surpassed by Ceal Barry's run of six 20-plus win seasons from 1991-97.
"Coach Payne has been the model of consistently sustained excellence here at Colorado, and I'm thrilled that she will be leading our program for years to come," athletic director Fernando Lovo said in a release. "Coach Payne's teams embody her personality of grit, resilience, toughness, and integrity, but this extension is also emblematic of her role as a tremendous leader and mentor for our student-athletes."
The Buffaloes under Payne have also excelled in the classroom, recording 13 straight semesters with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including a 3.427 mark in 2024, a program record.
"Coach Payne has built a program that is focused on success not only on the court but in the classroom and community — developing student-athletes who excel in their sport and in life beyond athletics," Chancellor Justin Schwartz said.
Payne has seen a plethora of players continue their basketball careers after wearing the black and gold, including WNBA Champion guard Jaylyn Sherrod and the eighth overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Mya Hollingshed.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to sign a new contract to remain the head women's basketball coach at the University of Colorado," Payne said. “CU is a truly special place, and I'm proud of what we have been able to accomplish together—both on the court and in the classroom.”
Payne looks to lead the Buffaloes back to March Madness through a gauntlet of a Big 12 Tournament, starting this Thursday.