5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches

Ladies’s faculty basketball has noticed exponential development 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 programs, 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 few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with developing powerhouse programs.

Below’s a consider the five best-paid out women’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their amazing salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite payment.

1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $three.1 million

Dawn Staley proceeds for being the gold standard in Gals’s higher education basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Due to the fact taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple 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 best-paid out Black head coach in Women of all ages's higher education basketball historical past. That deal has considering that been restructured and extended with effectiveness incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the list.

2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $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 one of the most dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—men's or Females’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and regular general performance have ensured profitable contract renewals. His recent agreement features a foundation wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. When UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management preserve his worth substantial.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Wage: $2.7 million

Soon after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next time While using the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a fresh level of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her large-profile arrival came which has a valuable 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 Salary: $one.4 million

Brenda Frese has quietly developed a design of regularity at Maryland due to the fact taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has M88 saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.

Her extended-time period effect and development of top rated-tier talent have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and student growth.

five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Income: $one.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not just considered one of the highest-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn history and it has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.

Whilst VanDerveer has never been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her leadership, advancement of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place among the all-time greats in coaching background.

A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective of the rising recognition and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Packages are attracting additional nationwide Television discounts, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors have become much 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 to their courses as well as Activity as a whole.

Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at present guide how with regard to earnings, many Other people 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 packages and will split into the top rated five in the approaching many years as Women of all ages's basketball carries on to grow.

Closing Thoughts
The times of underfunded women’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command significant 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 grow in attractiveness and help, we will count on these salaries—and also the profiles of these leaders—to continue soaring.

Females’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining tempo—it’s placing the rate for the way forward for competitive sports activities.