five Maximum-Paid out Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
five Maximum-Paid out Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s university basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With all the greater attractiveness and business achievement on the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these best-tier coaches carry to their teams and universities. As universities continue to speculate inside their Gals’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that come with setting up powerhouse courses.
Below’s a consider the five best-paid out Females’s school basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their spectacular salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley proceeds for being the gold standard in Gals’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has designed South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Considering the fact that taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Remaining Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she created headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.four million deal, generating her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Once-a-year Income: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into The most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball background—Gentlemen's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and steady general performance have ensured profitable agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Although UConn has faced new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit high.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Income: $two.7 million
Immediately after A prosperous two-10 years run M88 at Baylor, in which she won three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd year Together with the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a different amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival came by using a valuable eight-12 months, $23.6 million contract, making her one of the best-paid out Ladies’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Approximated Annual Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide contention for more than two decades.
Her very long-phrase effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her existing offer contains bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil progress.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only among the best-paid coaches but additionally the winningest mentor in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn record and it has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Even though VanDerveer hasn't been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, progress of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her location One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Transforming Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the increasing level of popularity and economical viability of girls’s college basketball. Applications are attracting much more national TV bargains, ticket product sales are rising, and corporate sponsors are becoming much more invested in Females's sports.
The increase in coaching salaries is not merely an indication of progress—it’s a recognition from the hard work, Management, and achievements these coaches convey for their packages along with the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at the moment lead the way in terms of earnings, quite a few Some others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each and every of these coaches has built important strides with their respective plans and will split in to the major five in the approaching yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to improve.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command significant salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the culture of their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to improve in reputation and support, we will expect these salaries—plus the profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.
Women’s higher education basketball isn’t just keeping tempo—it’s placing the rate for the future of competitive athletics.