By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina has extended baseball coach Scott Forbes’ contract through 2032 after a season that ended with the Tar Heels as national runners-up.
The Board of Governors approved Forbes’ deal and extensions for his assistants Thursday.
Under the terms of the deal (see in full below), signed on June 30, Forbes will earn $1.2 million in total compensation for the next three seasons, with his salary increasing to $1.4 million in 2030, $1.7 million in 2031 and $2 million in 2032.
Potential compensation bonuses start next season at $1.7 million and increase to $2.5 million in year six. The total bonus for winning the national title would be $325,000, with several bonuses along the way during the NCAA tournament.
UNC comes off a run to the College World Series finals, the program’s 13th trip to Omaha. The Tar Heels advanced by hosting both an NCAA regional and super regional, the fourth time they have done so during Forbes’ tenure.
“We talk about it all the time within our program that it is an honor and privilege to be at UNC,” Forbes said in a statement released by the school, “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.”
Carolina has become one of the country’s most consistent programs since Forbes took over before the 2021 season. The Tar Heels have made six straight NCAA tournaments, the longest such streak to open a head coaching career in program history, and are the only team in the country to reach the College World Series two of the past three seasons.
Forbes, who turned 52 in August, has won 254 games as head coach, averaging more than 42 per season. UNC has won at least 49 games in each season since 2024 and captured three ACC titles.
“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,” Athletic Director Steve Newmark said in a statement released by the school. “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.”
The 2026 team set a program record with 550 runs and finished among the nation’s top 10 in hits, walks and triples. It finished second in the ACC in ERA after leading the conference in each of the previous two seasons.
Under Forbes and his staff, UNC has produced 13 All-America winners and 34 All-ACC honorees. In 2026, Jake Schaffner, after one season at UNC, became the program’s 27th first-round pick.
UNC has had a position player selected in the first round of the MLB Draft in each of the past three years. Its four top-100 selections in 2026 were the most in program history.
Forbes’ contract terms
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Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
