5 Highest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
5 Highest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women’s college basketball has observed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. While using the enhanced attractiveness and commercial achievement from the sport, especially in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these prime-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate inside their Females’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the monetary benefits that include creating powerhouse applications.
Here’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’s university 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 Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues being the gold normal in Ladies’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to numerous NCAA Last Four appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-yr, $22.four million agreement, earning her the very best-paid out Black head coach in Women of all ages's university basketball heritage. That offer has considering that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the very best of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Believed Annual Wage: $2.nine million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled the program into one of the most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball history—men's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured valuable deal renewals. His existing contract features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing discounts, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Though UConn has confronted new challenges with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his price higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $two.7 million
Soon after A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, the place she gained three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball environment by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next period Using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a fresh amount of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her large-profile arrival arrived that has a valuable eight-yr, $23.6 million deal, generating her among the highest-compensated Females’s coaches ever. 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.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $1.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a design of regularity at Maryland due to the fact taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in nationwide contention for over twenty years.
Her prolonged-term effects and progress of top rated-tier talent have designed her indispensable to M88 Maryland’s athletic Division. Her latest deal involves bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and student growth.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply one among the best-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get document and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been a person 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 spot Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Switching Landscape in Women's Basketball
The growing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the developing acceptance and financial viability of women’s college basketball. Plans are attracting extra nationwide Television bargains, ticket product sales are escalating, and corporate sponsors have gotten additional invested in Gals's sports.
The rise in coaching salaries is not just a sign of development—it’s a recognition of the effort, Management, and achievement these coaches carry for their programs and the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these 5 coaches at the moment lead the way when it comes to earnings, a number of Other people are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each and every of such coaches has built significant strides with their respective programs and will break in the best 5 in the coming yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to expand.
Remaining Ideas
The days of underfunded Girls’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command substantial salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Girls’s basketball to new heights. As being the sport carries on to grow in popularity and help, we are able to hope these salaries—as well as profiles of those leaders—to carry on increasing.
Girls’s college basketball isn’t just trying to keep speed—it’s location the pace for the future of competitive athletics.