five Greatest-Paid out Women's College Basketball Coaches

Gals’s university basketball has observed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. Using the enhanced reputation and commercial achievements of the Activity, especially in NCAA Division I programs, 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 college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their outstanding salaries but will also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.

one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Wage: $three.1 million

Dawn Staley carries on to generally be the gold conventional in Gals’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Due to the fact taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.4 million deal, generating her the highest-paid out Black head coach in Women of all ages's college or university basketball background. That offer has because been restructured and extended with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the very best of this checklist.

2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $2.nine million

A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 national titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has reworked This system into Probably the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball history—Guys's or Gals’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His current contract features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament operates. While UConn has faced recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership keep his value high.

3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.seven million

Just after A prosperous two-ten years run at Baylor, the place she gained three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball environment by signing up for LSU in 2021. In just her second time with the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her superior-profile arrival arrived by using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.6 million contract, making her amongst the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for M88 her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.

4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $one.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 Match appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.

Her extended-time period influence and development of top rated-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her present-day offer consists of bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her dual dedication to athletics and scholar improvement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Annual Wage: $one.three million

Tara VanDerveer is not only among the very best-compensated coaches but will also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win file and it has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Closing 4 appearances.

While VanDerveer has never been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.

A Transforming Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The increasing salaries of such coaches are reflective of the expanding acceptance and fiscal viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting additional nationwide Tv set discounts, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors have become far more invested in Gals's athletics.

The rise in coaching salaries is not just an indication of progress—it’s a recognition in the hard work, leadership, and achievement these coaches bring for their systems plus the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
While these five coaches currently direct the way in which regarding earnings, various Some 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 considerable strides with their respective applications and will break into your prime 5 in the coming years as Gals's basketball continues to improve.

Last Views
The days of underfunded Gals’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just 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 grow in level of popularity and assistance, we could expect these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to continue climbing.

Women’s university basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for competitive sports activities.