five Greatest-Paid Ladies's Higher education Basketball Coaches
five Greatest-Paid Ladies's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
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 good results in the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and leadership these major-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities proceed to take a position in their Females’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that come with developing powerhouse programs.
Listed here’s a consider the five optimum-compensated Gals’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their spectacular salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Estimated Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold standard in Gals’s university 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 Final 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 very best-compensated Black head coach in Girls's school basketball heritage. That offer has considering that been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, putting her firmly at the very best of the listing.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Wage: $2.9 million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into one of the most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball historical past—Guys's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent overall performance have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His recent deal includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Event runs. Even though UConn has faced modern challenges with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management keep his benefit higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Estimated Yearly Income: $two.7 million
Soon after a M88 successful two-10 years operate at Baylor, the place she gained three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In only her next season Using the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival came by using a valuable eight-12 months, $23.6 million contract, producing her one of the best-compensated Gals’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant style, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a product of consistency at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With many convention championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in national contention for more than two decades.
Her prolonged-time period influence and progress of top-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present deal involves bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her dual commitment to athletics and college student progress.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Yearly Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is don't just among the best-compensated coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win file and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been just one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, development of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her spot Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Switching Landscape in Women's Basketball
The growing salaries of these coaches are reflective of your increasing attractiveness and financial viability of women’s school basketball. Applications are attracting additional nationwide Television discounts, ticket profits are rising, and corporate sponsors have gotten additional invested in Ladies's sports.
The rise in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of your effort, leadership, and accomplishment these coaches provide to their applications and also the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these 5 coaches at this time lead the way concerning earnings, various Other folks are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of those coaches has produced sizeable strides with their respective packages and could split in to the major five in the approaching yrs as Females'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 tradition in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. Since the sport proceeds to improve in level of popularity and help, we could anticipate these salaries—plus the profiles of such leaders—to continue climbing.
Women of all ages’s university basketball isn’t just preserving rate—it’s setting the tempo for the way forward for aggressive sports.