five Optimum-Paid out Women of all ages's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Females’s school basketball has noticed exponential progress in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past ten years. While using the amplified reputation and commercial success with the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the worth and Management these best-tier coaches convey to their teams and universities. As universities keep on to speculate in their Females’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the monetary rewards that include creating powerhouse packages.In this article’s a think about the 5 greatest-paid women’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their outstanding salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Annual Wage: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues being the gold regular in women’s faculty basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to numerous NCAA Closing Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she made headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, earning her the very best-compensated Black head mentor in Females's college basketball historical past. That deal has due to the fact been restructured and prolonged with performance incentives, positioning her firmly at the very best of the record.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Yearly Income: $two.9 million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball record—Males's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured lucrative agreement renewals. His existing deal includes a base wage, media obligations, apparel discounts, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Even though UConn has confronted new problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.seven million
Immediately after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next time While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival came having a lucrative eight-yr, $23.6 million agreement, generating her among the highest-compensated Girls’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching type, flamboyant style, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in women's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Annual Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly developed a product of consistency at Maryland because taking over in 2002. With several meeting championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in national competition for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period affect and improvement of top rated-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her latest deal involves bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and college student enhancement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply certainly one of the very best-compensated coaches but also the winningest mentor in NCAA Females's basketball heritage. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get history and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.
When VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, growth of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her position One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and economic viability of ladies’s university basketball. Packages are attracting additional nationwide Tv set specials, ticket profits are rising, and company sponsors have gotten additional invested in Gals's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not just an indication of development—it’s a recognition of your hard work, Management, and achievement these coaches deliver to their plans as well as sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches now direct the best way when it comes to earnings, a number of others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every single of these coaches has designed considerable strides with their respective programs and will crack in the best five in the approaching decades as Ladies's basketball carries on to improve.
Remaining Thoughts
The days of underfunded Ladies’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command large salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, condition the tradition in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to improve in reputation and aid, we are able to be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on rising.
Females’s college or university basketball isn’t just retaining speed—it’s location the M88 pace for the future of competitive sports activities.