Women of all ages’s college or university basketball has noticed exponential progress in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the increased recognition and industrial good results in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities continue on to take a position within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a couple of standout coaches are reaping the monetary benefits that come with creating powerhouse applications.
Here’s a think about the five highest-compensated 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 Yearly Salary: $three.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold conventional in Girls’s university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has developed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering 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 Females's college basketball historical past. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the very best of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $2.9 million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your 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 men's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His existing agreement includes a base wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted the latest difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management keep his value higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Believed Yearly Wage: $2.seven million
After a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period With all the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 national championship, bringing a brand new level of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived which has a valuable eight-yr, $23.six million contract, creating her certainly one of the highest-compensated Girls’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Once-a-year Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly developed a model of regularity at Maryland given that taking over in 2002. With many convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in countrywide competition for more than 20 years.
Her long-expression influence and enhancement of prime-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her latest deal incorporates bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and university student advancement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Yearly Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply 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 report and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Even though VanDerveer hasn't been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her spot Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Changing Landscape in Females's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective of your growing reputation and money 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 sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not merely an indication of progress—it’s a recognition in the labor, leadership, and success these coaches convey for their packages plus the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at this time direct the way in which when it comes to earnings, a number of others are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every of those coaches has made sizeable strides with their respective systems and could crack to the top 5 in the coming yrs as Girls's basketball continues to improve.
Ultimate Thoughts
The days of underfunded women’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their M88 universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to develop in level of popularity and help, we can easily count on these salaries—and the profiles of those leaders—to carry on increasing.
Girls’s college basketball isn’t just trying to keep rate—it’s setting the tempo for the way forward for aggressive sports.