Women of all ages’s university basketball has observed exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. With the enhanced attractiveness and commercial achievement in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these prime-tier coaches carry to their teams and universities. As universities continue to take a position in their Ladies’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with creating powerhouse plans.
Right here’s a look at the 5 greatest-paid Women of all ages’s college or university 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 Yearly Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley proceeds for being the gold regular in Women of all ages’s faculty basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Ladies's faculty basketball background. That offer has because been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this record.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Yearly Income: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—Adult males's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, attire bargains, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Whilst UConn has faced latest issues with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his benefit superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.7 million
Following a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where by she received a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In just her next time While using the Tigers, she led them M88 to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her superior-profile arrival arrived by using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.six million contract, making her one of the best-paid out Ladies’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a product of consistency at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With several conference championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in national rivalry for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period affect and improvement of major-tier talent have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her current deal features bonuses for educational performance, wins, and postseason results—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and college student improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Yearly Wage: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just one of the highest-paid coaches but additionally the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get report and it has led Stanford to a few national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Closing 4 appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, growth of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her put among the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The escalating salaries of such coaches are reflective of your developing level of popularity and financial viability of women’s school basketball. Plans are attracting far more nationwide Tv set discounts, ticket profits are raising, and company sponsors have gotten far more invested in Girls's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition with the exertions, leadership, and good results these coaches deliver to their courses as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at the moment direct the way in terms of earnings, quite a few Many others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each and every of such coaches has designed important strides with their respective applications and will break into your prime five in the approaching many years as Women of all ages's basketball carries on to develop.
Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Females’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command higher salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle in their universities, and elevate Girls’s basketball to new heights. As the sport carries on to develop in attractiveness and help, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue soaring.
Females’s college or university basketball isn’t just maintaining pace—it’s location the pace for the future of aggressive sporting activities.