5 Best-Compensated Ladies's Faculty Basketball Coaches

Ladies’s college basketball has observed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. Using the improved acceptance and industrial accomplishment on the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and leadership these top-tier coaches bring for their groups and universities. As universities keep on to invest in their women’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that come with building powerhouse courses.

In this article’s a consider the five best-paid out Females’s school basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their spectacular salaries and also 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 various NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million contract, building her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Ladies'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 – University of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Income: $two.nine million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in school basketball historical past—Adult males's or women’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His existing agreement includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Although UConn has faced modern troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price substantial.

3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Once-a-year Income: $two.7 million

Soon after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In only her next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a brand new level of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her large-profile arrival arrived using a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million agreement, creating her certainly one of the best-paid out Ladies’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching fashion, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.

4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Once-a-year Wage: $one.4 million

Brenda Frese has quietly built a design of consistency at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With multiple convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide contention for more than twenty years.

Her lengthy-time period affect and improvement of major-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her existing offer involves bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and college M88 student enhancement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is don't just certainly one of the very best-compensated coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get file and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.

When VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, growth of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her put Amongst the all-time greats in coaching background.

A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The expanding salaries of such coaches are reflective of the growing recognition and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting additional countrywide Tv set discounts, ticket profits are raising, and corporate sponsors have become a lot more invested in Ladies's sports.

The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of your effort, leadership, and good results these coaches deliver for their systems plus the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
When these five coaches presently guide how regarding earnings, numerous Other individuals are on the rise:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Each individual of those coaches has produced sizeable strides with their respective packages and could split into the major five in the approaching a long time as women's basketball carries on to develop.

Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Girls’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command large salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the culture of their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity carries on to mature in level of popularity and help, we can easily count on these salaries—and the profiles of those leaders—to carry on rising.

Females’s college basketball isn’t just retaining speed—it’s setting the tempo for the future of aggressive sporting activities.