5 Highest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
5 Highest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Females’s faculty basketball has viewed exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past ten years. Using the amplified recognition and business achievements of the sport, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities keep on to take a position within their women’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that come with creating powerhouse applications.
Here’s a think about the five greatest-compensated Women of all ages’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their extraordinary salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
one. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Yearly Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley proceeds to become the gold regular in Ladies’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to various NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she created headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head mentor in Females's college basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Gentlemen's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His present-day deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. When UConn has confronted new challenges with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his benefit superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $two.seven million
Immediately after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her next period Together with the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived by using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.6 million contract, earning her considered one of the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches ever. Known for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With a number of meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide competition for more than two decades.
Her very long-phrase effects and progress of leading-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her current deal includes bonuses for educational performance, wins, and postseason results—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and scholar improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is don't just among the very best-compensated coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get file 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 Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The expanding salaries of such coaches are reflective of the expanding reputation and economic viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide TV offers, ticket income are growing, and corporate sponsors have gotten extra invested in Females's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition of the labor, leadership, and achievement these coaches carry to their applications along with the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches presently guide the way in which with regards to earnings, a number of Other folks are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has manufactured important strides with their respective systems and will split in the leading M88 five in the approaching a long time as Girls's basketball proceeds to improve.
Final Thoughts
The days of underfunded Ladies’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command large salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle in their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to mature in acceptance and support, we will be expecting these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to carry on mounting.
Women’s school basketball isn’t just trying to keep speed—it’s environment the tempo for the future of aggressive sporting activities.