DeKALB — New NIU men’s basketball head coach Matt Majkrzak is set to become the school’s seventh highest-paid employee while making $20,000 less annually than his predecessor, Rashon Burno.
Majkrzak, who was hired Monday, will receive a five-year contract with an annual base salary of $330,000 — nearly 2.5 times the $125,000 annuity he earned at Northern Michigan, according to documents obtained by the Northern Star through Freedom of Information Act requests. Burno’s initial base salary was $350,000.
The 36-year-old Majkrzak will be under contract through the end of the 2030-31 season.
Majkrzak will receive a contract extension of up to one year if either of two events occurs: The Huskies win a Horizon League regular-season or conference tournament championship, or NIU athletic director Sean Frazier leaves the school’s employment before March 15, 2030. Such terms were not included in Burno’s contract.
NIU will also pay for several performance incentives, including $5,000 for a 20-win regular season (only one non-D1 win will count toward the total) and $10,000 each for Horizon League Coach of the Year honors, a regular-season title, a conference tournament championship, an NCAA tournament appearance or a Final Four berth. Majkrzak can also earn $2,500 if NIU reaches the National Invitational Tournament or the College Basketball Invitational and $5,000 for winning either tournament.
The contract includes no mention of a buyout for Majkrzak’s remaining contract at Northern Michigan, which was set to expire June 30, 2027. NIU will provide Majkrzak a one-time relocation stipend, as well as a courtesy vehicle and $25,000 for donor engagement efforts.
If Majkrzak resigns or is fired for good cause, NIU will only be liable for employment payments or benefits past the date of the contract’s termination. If Majkrzak is fired without good cause — which would include performance-related reasons — the school will owe him 100% of his base salary for that contract year and the year following and 50% of the base salary for each subsequent year.
Should Majkrzak leave to accept another position, he will be required to pay a lump sum within 90 days of his resignation. If he leaves before March 15, 2028, Majkrzak would owe 50% of his then-current salary for the rest of his deal. That amount drops to 40% if he departs before March 15, 2029, and then 20% if he exits before March 15, 2030.
