five Greatest-Compensated Females's Higher education Basketball Coaches
five Greatest-Compensated Females's Higher education Basketball Coaches
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Females’s higher education basketball has witnessed exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last decade. With the elevated attractiveness and commercial accomplishment in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these major-tier coaches provide for their teams and universities. As universities go on to speculate within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that come with developing powerhouse applications.
Listed here’s a think about the five maximum-paid Women of all ages’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their extraordinary salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Yearly Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley proceeds being the gold standard in Girls’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Due to the fact taking on This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to numerous NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.four million agreement, creating her the highest-paid out Black head coach in Women of all ages's college basketball historical past. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, putting her firmly at the very best of this list.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Annual Wage: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Gentlemen's or Girls’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and constant efficiency have ensured lucrative agreement renewals. His current contract features a foundation income, media obligations, apparel discounts, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament operates. Even though UConn has faced recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Approximated Annual Income: $2.7 million
Immediately after A prosperous two-decade operate at Baylor, in which she gained three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In just her 2nd season Together with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a new degree of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival came that has a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million deal, creating her considered one of the very best-paid out women’s coaches ever. M88 Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Believed Yearly Income: $1.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a design of consistency at Maryland since taking over in 2002. With multiple convention championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in national competition for over two decades.
Her very long-term effect and progress of best-tier expertise have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent deal consists of bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason results—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and college student development.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Believed Once-a-year Income: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not just certainly one of the very best-compensated coaches but will also the winningest coach in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get document and it has led Stanford to a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Last Four appearances.
Even though VanDerveer has never been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, development of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her position Among the many all-time greats in coaching background.
A Changing Landscape in Women's Basketball
The expanding salaries of these coaches are reflective of the increasing acceptance and financial viability of ladies’s university basketball. Applications are attracting extra national Television discounts, ticket income are growing, and company sponsors are becoming additional invested in Ladies's sports.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition of the labor, leadership, and achievements these coaches deliver to their programs as well as the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
Even though these 5 coaches at present guide the way in which in terms of earnings, many Other people are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of these coaches has manufactured significant strides with their respective packages and could break in to the top rated 5 in the approaching years as Ladies's basketball carries on to increase.
Remaining Views
The times of underfunded Women of all ages’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command significant salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the society of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport continues to grow in acceptance and assist, we will count on these salaries—and the profiles of these leaders—to carry on climbing.
Females’s college or university basketball isn’t just preserving tempo—it’s placing the pace for the future of competitive sports activities.