Women of all ages’s higher education basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. Along with the increased reputation and industrial accomplishment on the sport, especially in NCAA Division I plans, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these prime-tier coaches deliver for their teams and universities. As universities go on to speculate of their Females’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the monetary rewards that include making powerhouse packages.
Listed here’s a look at the 5 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 proceeds for being the gold regular in Women of all ages’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Given that taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she made 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 heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $2.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball heritage—men's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and constant overall performance have ensured valuable agreement renewals. His recent contract features a base salary, media obligations, attire bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Whilst UConn has confronted the latest worries with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $2.seven million
Following a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where she received a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time with the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a completely new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived which has a beneficial eight-yr, $23.six million agreement, generating her one among the highest-compensated Gals’s coaches ever. Known for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Annual Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly developed a model of regularity at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With a number of conference championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.
Her extended-term impression and advancement of top-tier talent have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her current deal features bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and scholar improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual M88 Wage: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the highest-compensated coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get file and has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.
While VanDerveer has never been just one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her spot Among the many all-time greats in coaching record.
A Changing Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and fiscal viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Courses are attracting much more national Television set offers, ticket product sales are growing, and corporate sponsors are becoming much more invested in Females's sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not merely an indication of progress—it’s a recognition in the labor, leadership, and success these coaches bring for their systems plus the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at the moment lead the way concerning earnings, various Some others are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has created substantial strides with their respective applications and will split in to the major five in the approaching yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to increase.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Gals’s plans and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command significant salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity continues to increase in reputation and aid, we are able to hope these salaries—as well as the profiles of such leaders—to continue growing.
Women of all ages’s university basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s placing the speed for the way forward for competitive sports activities.