5 Best-Compensated Gals's College or university Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Gals's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women’s faculty basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. With all the greater attractiveness and professional achievements of your Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and Management these major-tier coaches provide for their teams and universities. As universities continue to speculate inside their Girls’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that include constructing powerhouse plans.
Here’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’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 Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues to generally be the gold common in women’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted 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 Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she made headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball background. That offer has since been restructured and extended with general performance incentives, placing her firmly at the highest of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated 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 The most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball background—Gentlemen's or Gals’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His present-day deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted the latest challenges with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $two.seven million
Soon after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, where she received a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period With all the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her superior-profile arrival arrived using a rewarding eight-12 months, $23.6 million deal, building her one among the highest-compensated Girls’s coaches M88 ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Yearly Salary: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly developed a product of consistency at Maryland due to the fact taking over in 2002. With many conference championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in countrywide contention for over twenty years.
Her lengthy-expression impact and growth of top-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her existing offer includes bonuses for educational general performance, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and university student improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only among the very best-paid out coaches but will also the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire report and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Remaining 4 appearances.
Though VanDerveer hasn't been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her spot One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Shifting Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the rising attractiveness and economical viability of girls’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting far more nationwide TV deals, ticket sales are increasing, and company sponsors have become much more invested in Ladies's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only an indication of development—it’s a recognition from the hard work, Management, and good results these coaches bring for their plans as well as the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these 5 coaches at present lead how regarding earnings, a number of Many others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has created significant strides with their respective packages and could split into your prime 5 in the coming yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to develop.
Closing Thoughts
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s plans and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just command large salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity proceeds to develop in level of popularity and support, we will hope these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on soaring.
Ladies’s higher education basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the tempo for the future of aggressive athletics.