Women of all ages’s faculty basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. Using the greater attractiveness and commercial good results on the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and Management these top rated-tier coaches provide for their teams and universities. As universities proceed to invest in their women’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with creating powerhouse applications.
Here’s a think about the 5 highest-compensated Women of all ages’s college or university 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
Estimated Once-a-year Wage: $3.1 million
Dawn Staley continues to be the gold conventional in Girls’s faculty basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering 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 manufactured headlines by signing a historic 7-yr, $22.four million contract, creating her the best-paid Black head mentor in Ladies's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of this listing.
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 national titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has remodeled This system into Probably the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball history—Gentlemen's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial contract renewals. His present-day contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel discounts, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. When UConn has confronted the latest difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership maintain his worth large.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she received 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In only her M88 next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival came using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.six million contract, creating her one of the best-paid out Females’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching type, flamboyant style, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a design of consistency at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in national competition for more than 20 years.
Her long-expression effect and enhancement of prime-tier talent have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal features bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and university student advancement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Income: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is don't just certainly one of the very best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn record and has led Stanford to a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, progress 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 such coaches are reflective of your growing recognition and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are increasing, and company sponsors are getting to be extra invested in Women of all ages's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition from the hard work, Management, and results these coaches provide to their plans along with the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at the moment direct the way in which when it comes to earnings, various Other individuals are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of such coaches has created substantial strides with their respective programs and will break into your prime five in the approaching many years as women's basketball carries on to grow.
Closing Ideas
The times of underfunded Females’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds to increase in popularity and guidance, we can be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on increasing.
Gals’s school basketball isn’t just preserving pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports activities.