Women’s school basketball has witnessed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last decade. With the improved acceptance and business accomplishment with the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the worth and leadership these top-tier coaches carry for their teams and universities. As universities proceed to speculate in their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the economic benefits that come with building powerhouse systems.
Right here’s a think about the 5 highest-paid Gals’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their outstanding salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues to generally be the gold common in Ladies’s college or university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Because taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Last 4 appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.four million deal, producing her the best-paid Black head mentor in women's higher education basketball record. That deal has due to the fact been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of this listing.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Wage: $two.nine million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping 11 countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into Just about the most dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—men's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable overall performance have ensured worthwhile agreement renewals. His current contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Whilst UConn has faced current issues with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership maintain his benefit substantial.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Annual Salary: $2.seven million
After a successful two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd season Using the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived that has a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.six million contract, making her one of the very best-paid women’s coaches at any time. Recognized for M88 her passionate coaching style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide contention for more than twenty years.
Her prolonged-term affect and improvement of major-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her latest deal incorporates bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and pupil progress.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply one of the highest-paid out coaches but will also the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain record and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Remaining Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not 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 Amongst the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The expanding salaries of such coaches are reflective of the expanding reputation and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide Tv set specials, ticket profits are raising, and company sponsors are getting to be additional invested in Gals's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and success these coaches bring for their programs and the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at the moment direct how concerning earnings, various others are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has built sizeable strides with their respective systems and will split to the major five in the coming years as Women of all ages's basketball carries on to develop.
Remaining Ideas
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As the sport continues to mature in popularity and aid, we could count on these salaries—as well as the profiles of those leaders—to carry on growing.
Women’s college or university basketball isn’t just maintaining tempo—it’s setting the pace for the way forward for aggressive sporting activities.