five Optimum-Paid out Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches

Gals’s university basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Along with the amplified reputation and industrial accomplishment on the sport, especially in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and leadership these leading-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities keep on to take a position in their women’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical rewards that come with creating powerhouse applications.

Right here’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their spectacular salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.

one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $3.1 million

Dawn Staley proceeds to get the gold regular in women’s faculty basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has designed South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Considering the fact that taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Remaining 4 appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.4 million deal, earning her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's university basketball record. That deal has considering the fact that been restructured and extended with general performance 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 began 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 agreement renewals. His recent agreement features a base wage, media obligations, clothing deals, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament operates. Whilst UConn has faced current problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his worth large.

3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $2.7 million

Right after a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where she won three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a fresh level of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her large-profile arrival came which has a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million agreement, creating her one of the best-paid out women’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.

4. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly designed a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With many conference championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in countrywide rivalry for over M88 twenty years.

Her prolonged-term impression and improvement of leading-tier expertise have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer involves bonuses for tutorial effectiveness, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and college student enhancement.

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

Tara VanDerveer is don't just among the best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get report 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 among the all-time greats in coaching background.

A Modifying Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your growing recognition and economic viability of ladies’s university basketball. Packages are attracting additional nationwide Television bargains, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors are becoming more invested in women's sports.

The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition of your exertions, Management, and good results these coaches carry to their courses plus the sport as a whole.

Honorable Mentions
Though these five coaches presently guide how regarding earnings, numerous 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 in the best 5 in the coming decades as Girls's basketball proceeds to increase.

Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Females’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity continues to expand in popularity and help, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.

Women’s higher education basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.