Women of all ages’s college or university basketball has found exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past ten years. Together with the enhanced popularity and commercial good results with the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I systems, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these prime-tier coaches provide for their teams and universities. As universities keep on to take a position within their Females’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that include setting up powerhouse courses.
Below’s a consider the five highest-compensated Gals’s higher education basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their amazing salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on for being the gold standard in Women of all ages’s faculty basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, creating her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Women of all ages's higher education basketball history. That deal has considering the fact that been restructured and extended with overall performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of this listing.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Income: $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 started in 1985, has reworked This system into Just about the most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball background—Gentlemen's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular general performance have ensured profitable agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation salary, media obligations, apparel bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Even though UConn has confronted the latest difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $two.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, where she won three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In only her next year While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived which has a beneficial eight-yr, $23.6 million deal, earning her amongst the very best-paid out Females’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Annual Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of M88 regularity at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in countrywide rivalry for over twenty years.
Her prolonged-term effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent offer involves bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and university student advancement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one among the best-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball heritage. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win file and it has led Stanford to 3 national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.
While VanDerveer has never been one particular to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her position Amongst the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective in the rising popularity and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide Television set deals, ticket revenue are growing, and corporate sponsors are becoming much more invested in Ladies's sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not just an indication of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and achievement these coaches bring for their courses and the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches currently guide the best way regarding earnings, a number of Other people are rising:
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 systems and could crack in the best 5 in the approaching many years as Women of all ages's basketball carries on to develop.
Ultimate Ideas
The times of underfunded women’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the society of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity continues to increase in recognition and aid, we will hope these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to continue climbing.
Women’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining speed—it’s location the pace for the future of aggressive sporting activities.