Gals’s university basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Together with the greater attractiveness and professional success of the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I systems, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these top-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities proceed to invest in their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the money rewards that come with setting up powerhouse systems.
Listed here’s a look at the 5 maximum-paid Women of all ages’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley carries on for being the gold conventional in Girls’s school basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has developed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Given that taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to various NCAA Ultimate Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic seven-yr, $22.four million contract, generating her the best-paid Black head coach in women's higher education basketball history. That deal has considering the fact that been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping eleven national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—Adult males's or Ladies’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured profitable deal renewals. His present-day deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. While UConn has confronted recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership keep his value higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Income: $two.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she won three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her 2nd season Using the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a completely new stage of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived by using a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.six million contract, making her amongst the very best-paid women’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching fashion, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a product of consistency at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With many conference championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in countrywide rivalry for more than twenty years.
Her prolonged-term impression and advancement of major-tier talent have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal incorporates bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason achievements—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and university student development.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Believed Annual Salary: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not just amongst the very best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest mentor in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win report and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Closing 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer hasn't been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her position Amongst the all-time greats in coaching record.
A Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Packages are attracting far more nationwide M88 Tv set discounts, ticket revenue are rising, and company sponsors are becoming far more invested in Girls's sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not simply an indication of development—it’s a recognition of the effort, Management, and achievements these coaches carry to their packages as well as Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these five coaches presently guide the way in which in terms of earnings, various Other folks are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each and every of these coaches has designed sizeable strides with their respective applications and could split into your major 5 in the approaching decades as Ladies's basketball continues to grow.
Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command superior salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity continues to grow in attractiveness and assist, we will be expecting these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to continue growing.
Women of all ages’s school basketball isn’t just keeping speed—it’s environment the tempo for the way forward for aggressive sporting activities.