five Greatest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
five Greatest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Ladies’s higher education basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. Using the improved acceptance and professional achievements of the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the value and leadership these leading-tier coaches bring for their groups and universities. As universities keep on to invest of their Ladies’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that include setting up powerhouse systems.
Below’s a look at the 5 optimum-paid out Ladies’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 Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues to be the gold typical in Females’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Given that 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 designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million agreement, producing her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and prolonged with overall performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $2.nine million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—Adult males's or Ladies’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular general performance have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His existing agreement includes a base salary, media obligations, attire discounts, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. Even though UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.7 million
Soon after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, where she won a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball entire world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd season Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived having a rewarding 8-year, $23.6 million agreement, producing her amongst the highest-compensated Ladies’s coaches ever. Recognized for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Annual Salary: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a model of regularity at Maryland because taking over in 2002. With several conference championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in nationwide contention for more than 20 years.
Her prolonged-phrase effect and advancement of leading-tier expertise have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present offer incorporates bonuses for academic overall performance, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and college student improvement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just considered one of the highest-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain record and has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate Four appearances.
When VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy M88 contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, development of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her location One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Shifting Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of those coaches are reflective in the developing acceptance and economic viability of women’s college or university basketball. Courses are attracting extra nationwide Television set discounts, ticket product sales are increasing, and corporate sponsors are getting to be far more invested in Ladies's athletics.
The increase in coaching salaries is not just a sign of progress—it’s a recognition on the effort, Management, and accomplishment these coaches bring to their systems and also the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
Even though these five coaches now guide the way in which in terms of earnings, numerous Other folks are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of those coaches has made significant strides with their respective systems and could split into the top rated 5 in the approaching many years as Gals's basketball carries on to improve.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Girls’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command substantial salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds to develop in attractiveness and help, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.
Women’s higher education basketball isn’t just keeping tempo—it’s placing the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports activities.