Females’s college or university basketball has noticed exponential progress in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. Using the enhanced level of popularity and business results of your Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and Management these major-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities carry on to invest of their Gals’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that include constructing powerhouse packages.
Right here’s a think about the 5 greatest-paid Gals’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their extraordinary salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Estimated Annual Salary: $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 This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to numerous NCAA Closing Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, earning her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and prolonged with overall performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $2.nine million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has reworked This system into Probably the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball record—Males's or Girls’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. When UConn has faced modern problems with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his price superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State College (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $two.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she received a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next season Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a completely new amount of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival arrived with a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.six million deal, creating her considered one of the very best-paid out Women of all ages’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Annual Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland given that taking on in 2002. With a number of conference championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in nationwide contention for more than two decades.
Her very long-term effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her current deal features bonuses for educational performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and scholar improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Salary: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just amongst the highest-paid out coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain document and it has led Stanford to 3 national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.
Though VanDerveer has never been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her location One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Transforming Landscape in Women's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective on the rising attractiveness and financial viability of women’s school basketball. Applications are attracting a lot more national TV offers, ticket revenue are growing, and company sponsors are getting to be extra invested in Gals's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only an indication of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and success these coaches convey for their packages and also the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at the moment lead the way concerning earnings, various Other folks are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of those coaches has created significant strides with their respective systems and could crack in to the major five in the approaching several years as women's basketball carries on to develop.
Closing M88 Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the culture of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds 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 rate for the way forward for aggressive sporting activities.