However, UA's proposal to the Regents for contract approval did not include the language regarding Garimella's oversight, a nuanced structure unusual in college athletics.Specifically, section 1.1 of Lloyd's new contract says Garimella will oversee "the budget for compensation for the university or university's approved 3rd party entity(ies) to student-athletes related to their Name, Image and Likeness."That NIL language indicates Garimella will oversee both the university-paid "revenue-sharing" money it will give to players and the outside-paid NIL money that UA can now raise funds for. Together, the money represents a roster budget, which was reportedly about $10 million for UA men's basketball in 2025-26.While Lloyd has declined to comment on the new arrangement, issues over resources devoted to men's basketball were believed to be central to negotiations for a new contract during the NCAA Tournament, when Lloyd held the leverage of a Final Four appearance and interest from North Carolina in its head-coaching vacancy.Because of the House settlement in June 2025, schools can pay their athletes a maximum of $20.5 million across all sports.

UA will not release the amount it gave men's basketball.In addition, schools are now allowed to raise NIL funds from outside sources for additional athlete compensation, which the new contract indicates Lloyd and Garimella will work on together.The contract indicates that Reed-Francois will be involved in achieving the budgetary goals of UA men's basketball. In a clause entitled "NIL/Revenue-Sharing and Budget Commitment," UA said all parties agreed that UA men's basketball would be supported so it is competitive nationally."Specifically, university and coach acknowledge that university intends to remain competitive within the upper end of the Big 12 conference and with other similarly situated A4 (Big 12, Big 10, SEC, and ACC) public institutions," the contract states.

"Each contract year, university agrees to work together with coach to establish a budget for university NIL, which will be subject to university approval no later than February 15 of the immediately preceding contract year (i.e., February 15, 2027, for contract Year Two and so on)."Each university NIL budget shall include amounts regarding revenue-share and other related monetary amounts not counting toward the university’s revenue-share cap. Each contract year, the chief financial officer and athletic director will also work together with coach and other program personnel to establish an operational budget (that includes a list capital projects, if applicable), which will be included in the university’s All Funds budget process and subject to university approval no later than May 15 of the immediately preceding fiscal year (i.e., May 15, 2027, for fiscal year 2028, and so on)."The contract also said that no later than May 1 every year, its CFO, special advisor for operations and AD will consult with Lloyd on "recommendations for facilities improvements, including the launch of a facility improvement fundraising plan."All other terms in Lloyd's contract were as submitted to the Regents last week, including a $2.9 million salary pool for his assistants and other staff, as well as the ability to offer three-year contracts to four assistants. Those contracts include salary protection in the event that Lloyd is fired before their terms end.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona basketball president takes oversight of Tommy Lloyd contract