five Greatest-Paid Girls's College Basketball Coaches
five Greatest-Paid Girls's College Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s higher education basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. Along with the amplified level of popularity and business results of your Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I systems, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these major-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities carry on to invest of their Girls’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that include creating powerhouse applications.
Listed here’s a look at the 5 optimum-paid Ladies’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their outstanding salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Salary: $three.one million
Dawn Staley continues to be the gold conventional in Gals’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball record. That deal has due to the fact been restructured and extended with efficiency incentives, inserting her firmly at the very best of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Approximated Annual Wage: $2.9 million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked This system into Just about the most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball history—Gentlemen's or Gals’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His current contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Although UConn has faced modern worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his benefit superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $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 world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd season Using the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived which has a valuable 8-year, $23.six million agreement, creating her one of the best-paid out Ladies’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages'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 given that taking on in 2002. With many conference championships, a M88 countrywide 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 efficiency, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil enhancement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is don't just one among the best-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn record and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Remaining Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, advancement of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her put among the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the developing level of popularity and economical viability of girls’s college or university basketball. Programs are attracting much more national TV offers, ticket product sales are escalating, and corporate sponsors have become much more invested in Females's sporting activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of the effort, leadership, and achievements these coaches provide to their plans as well as the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Though these five coaches presently lead just how with regard to earnings, various Other folks are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of such coaches has manufactured substantial strides with their respective programs and will break in the best 5 in the coming decades as Women of all ages's basketball carries on to grow.
Closing Thoughts
The times of underfunded Ladies’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command higher 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 proceeds to develop in attractiveness and assist, we can assume these salaries—as well as the profiles of such leaders—to continue climbing.
Women’s higher education basketball isn’t just keeping tempo—it’s placing the rate for the future of competitive sports activities.