Why UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes getting contract extension was 'priority' for Tar Heels

UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes isn’t going anywhere. 

Forbes has received a second contract extension in six months after leading the Tar Heels to the College World Series national championship series. The university announced Monday, Sept. 21, that it has extended Forbes’ contract to 2032. The term sheet was signed on June 30, eight days after UNC’s loss to Oklahoma in the final game of the 2026 season.

Across his six seasons as UNC’s head coach, Forbes has led the program to 254 wins, averaging just over 42 wins per year. The Tar Heels have three ACC championships and two CWS berths under Forbes, who took over for longtime coach Mike Fox ahead of the 2021 season. 

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UNC is the only team in college baseball to make it to Omaha in two of the last three years and Forbes has led the Tar Heels to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances. 

“Scott Forbes has been an integral part of Carolina baseball’s sustained excellence during his more than two decades with our program, first as an assistant coach and now as a head coach,” UNC athletics director Steve Newmark said in a school-issued statement. 

“It was a priority for our department to extend Scott’s contract and recognize the tremendous job he and his staff have done leading this program. They have established Carolina as one of the premier programs in the country, and just as importantly, have developed outstanding student-athletes who are successful in the classroom and in the community. Scott’s loyalty to Carolina, his staff and his student-athletes is unmatched, and we are fortunate to have him leading our baseball program.” 

Shortly after the official announcement on Monday, Newmark sent out a social media post that included a photo of him and Forbes. Newmark wrote: “Keeping the best of the best in Chapel Hill.” 

In UNC’s news release, Forbes thanked Newmark, UNC chancellor Lee Roberts and the university’s Board of Trustees “for their continued support and enhanced investment” in the baseball program. 

“We talk about it all the time within our program that it is an honor and privilege to be at UNC and it is truly a privilege to serve our players, this university and the athletic department daily. The program will always be about the players, and our staff is humbled by the opportunity to continue to serve them.” 

The Tar Heels are positioned for more success in 2027, with high-profile additions via the transfer portal and several key returners on the roster in Gavin Gallaher, Erik Paulsen, Cooper Nicholson, Caden Glauber and Walker McDuffie. 

Forbes has a base salary of $350,000 for the 2026-27 season with total compensation coming in at $1.2 million annually for the next three years. That total creeps up to $1.4 million in 2029, $1.7 million in ’28 and $2 million in ’31. He’s also eligible for $500,000 in potential bonuses, including $170,000 if the Tar Heels return to Omaha and win the College World Series. 

According to Forbes’ contract, the baseball program has a staff salary pool of $1.55 million and an operating budget of $1.15 million. UNC’s coaching staff of Bryant Gaines, Scott Jackson, Jesse Wierzbicki and Jason Howell has remained intact since Forbes was hired. The program also promoted Kyle Datres and Brandon Martorano to full-time roles as directors of player development. Newly-hired strength and conditioning coach Eric McKibban will be “funded outside of staff salary pool,” according to the contract. 

The agreement also includes $820,000 in revenue share payments to the baseball program for the 2028 fiscal year, “subject to budget approval and availability of funds.” 

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Why UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes getting contract extension was ‘priority’ for Tar Heels