five Optimum-Paid out Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
five Optimum-Paid out Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Girls’s school basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With all the greater level of popularity and professional achievements of your Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and Management these top rated-tier coaches bring for their teams and universities. As universities proceed to invest of their women’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical rewards that come with building powerhouse courses.
Below’s a look at the 5 optimum-paid women’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Estimated Yearly Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold conventional in Girls’s school basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Because taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Final Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Girls's university basketball heritage. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Gentlemen's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His present-day deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. When UConn has confronted new troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management hold his price substantial.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $2.7 million
Following a successful two-ten 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 just her next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival came with a valuable eight-yr, $23.six million agreement, creating her one of the best-paid out women’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With a number of meeting championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for more than twenty years.
Her very long-phrase effect and improvement of leading-tier expertise have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her existing deal features bonuses for tutorial effectiveness, wins, M88 and postseason results—illustrating her twin motivation to athletics and pupil development.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Wage: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely one among the best-paid coaches but will also the winningest coach in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get file and has led Stanford to a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Closing 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer has not been one 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 spot among the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Switching Landscape in Females's Basketball
The raising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and monetary viability of girls’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting far more nationwide TV promotions, ticket revenue are increasing, and company sponsors are getting to be additional invested in Gals's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply an indication of progress—it’s a recognition from the effort, leadership, and results these coaches convey to their systems along with the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these 5 coaches at the moment guide how with regards to earnings, a number of Other people are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of these coaches has made considerable strides with their respective programs and could break into the best five in the coming yrs as Gals's basketball proceeds to increase.
Closing Ideas
The days of underfunded Females’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command large salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, form the culture in their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Given that the Activity proceeds to develop in reputation and help, we will be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of these leaders—to carry on mounting.
Girls’s college or university basketball isn’t just holding speed—it’s placing the speed for the future of competitive athletics.