five Greatest-Paid Girls's College or university Basketball Coaches
five Greatest-Paid Girls's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s faculty basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the enhanced attractiveness and commercial achievement in the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these leading-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate of their Females’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that include setting up powerhouse systems.
Below’s a consider the five optimum-paid out Ladies’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 carries on 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 a number of NCAA Final 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million agreement, earning her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Girls's college basketball heritage. That offer has considering that been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has remodeled the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—men's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable overall performance have ensured worthwhile deal renewals. His present-day contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel bargains, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. Although UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management keep his value higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State College (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $2.7 million
Following An effective two-decade run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball earth by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second season Using the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived which has a valuable eight-yr, $23.6 million deal, generating her among the best-compensated Girls’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $one.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a design of consistency at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With several meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in national competition for more than 20 years.
Her long-expression influence and development of prime-tier talent have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent deal involves bonuses for academic functionality, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and college student enhancement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just considered one of the highest-paid out coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Females's basketball heritage. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win document and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.
Though VanDerveer has never been one particular to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching record.
A Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of the growing reputation and economical viability of girls’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide Television set promotions, ticket sales are increasing, and company sponsors M88 are getting to be extra invested in Gals's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition of your effort, Management, and accomplishment these coaches carry to their applications and also the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches now direct the best way with regards to earnings, a number of others are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every of those coaches has produced sizeable strides with their respective systems and could crack to the top 5 in the coming decades as Girls's basketball continues to improve.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command significant salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to mature in acceptance and support, we could 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.