Girls’s higher education basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With all the greater attractiveness and professional achievements of your Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the value and leadership these best-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities carry on to speculate of their Females’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that come with building powerhouse applications.
Here’s a look at the five highest-paid Women of all ages’s school 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 being the gold common in Gals’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Closing Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, creating her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's university basketball heritage. That offer has considering that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this listing.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Once-a-year Income: $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 remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—Adult males's or Ladies’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular general performance have ensured profitable agreement renewals. His recent agreement features a base wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. Even though UConn has confronted new difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership retain his benefit high.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $two.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-ten years run at Baylor, the place she gained three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball earth by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a fresh level of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her large-profile arrival came that has a rewarding 8-year, $23.six million agreement, producing her certainly one of the best-paid out Females’s coaches ever. Recognized for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Annual Wage: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly built 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 contention for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period affect and development of top rated-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her latest deal involves bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and student growth.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Income: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just considered one of the highest-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn record and has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Closing 4 appearances.
While VanDerveer hasn't been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Transforming Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the developing acceptance and money viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Courses are attracting extra countrywide Tv set specials, ticket profits are expanding, and corporate sponsors have gotten extra invested in women's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply an indication of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and achievements these coaches convey for their plans and also the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these 5 coaches at this time direct the way in terms of earnings, various Other folks are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has created substantial strides with their respective courses and could crack to the top five in the approaching several years as Females's basketball continues to increase.
Last Feelings
The days of underfunded Girls’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. M88 These elite coaches not simply command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to improve in reputation and help, we are able to be expecting these salaries—as well as the profiles of those leaders—to continue soaring.
Women’s faculty basketball isn’t just keeping tempo—it’s placing the speed for the way forward for competitive sports activities.