Girls’s higher education basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Together with the amplified popularity 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 bring to their groups and universities. As universities keep on to take a position inside their Girls’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical rewards that come with setting up powerhouse systems.
Below’s a consider the 5 optimum-paid out women’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $three.one million
Dawn Staley carries on for being the gold regular 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 up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple NCAA Remaining Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she made headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.4 million deal, producing her the best-paid Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That offer 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 the jaw-dropping 11 national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—Adult males's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His present contract includes a base wage, media obligations, clothing specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. When UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management hold his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Once-a-year Income: $2.7 million
Following a successful two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball environment by signing up for LSU in 2021. In just her second time While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her large-profile arrival came which has a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million contract, making her amongst the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches ever. Known for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly developed a product of consistency at Maryland since taking up in 2002. With numerous convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.
Her lengthy-expression influence and enhancement of best-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present deal features bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and pupil progress.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just one among the best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn document and has led Stanford to a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Closing 4 appearances.
Though VanDerveer has never been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, progress of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place among the all-time greats in coaching history.
A Modifying Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating popularity and financial viability of women’s college basketball. Programs are attracting much more national Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are expanding, and corporate sponsors are becoming additional invested in Women of all ages's sporting activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only an indication of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and achievements these coaches provide to their applications and also the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at the moment lead just how with regard to earnings, many Other individuals are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every M88 of those coaches has made major strides with their respective plans and will break into your prime 5 in the coming years as Girls's basketball continues to increase.
Last Feelings
The times of underfunded Girls’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just 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 Activity proceeds to expand in level of popularity and help, we can easily anticipate these salaries—plus the profiles of such leaders—to continue growing.
Women of all ages’s school basketball isn’t just preserving speed—it’s location the pace for the way forward for competitive sporting activities.