Women’s school basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Together with the amplified popularity and commercial accomplishment of your Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities continue on to take a position within their Females’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the monetary benefits that include creating powerhouse courses.
In this article’s a think about the five highest-compensated Females’s university 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 Wage: $3.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 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, earning her the highest-compensated Black head coach in Gals's university basketball record. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this listing.
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 commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Adult men's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and constant functionality have ensured valuable contract renewals. His existing agreement features a foundation wage, media obligations, clothing promotions, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Although UConn has faced modern troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.7 million
Following a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where by she received 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball world by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period Together with the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival arrived using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.six million contract, making her one of the best-paid out Ladies’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly designed a design of regularity at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With multiple meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period affect and improvement of top rated-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her latest deal involves bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil progress.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Yearly Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the very best-paid coaches but additionally the winningest mentor in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire history and has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.
Even though VanDerveer has never been just one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Altering Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your growing reputation and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Packages are attracting additional nationwide Television bargains, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors are becoming much more invested in women's sports.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—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 with regards to earnings, a number of others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every single of these coaches has designed important strides with their respective applications and will break into your prime 5 in the coming years as Gals's basketball continues to improve.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command substantial salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Girls’s basketball to new heights. As the sport proceeds to develop M88 in attractiveness and help, we can easily anticipate these salaries—and the profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.
Gals’s university basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.