5 Best-Compensated Women's University Basketball Coaches

Girls’s higher education basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. Together with the amplified popularity and commercial achievement from the sport, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver for their groups and universities. As universities continue on to take a position within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with developing powerhouse programs.

In this article’s a consider the five best-paid out Ladies’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their amazing salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite payment.

1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $three.1 million

Dawn Staley proceeds to get the gold regular in Women of all ages’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Final Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, earning her the very best-paid out Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball background. That offer has considering the fact that been restructured and extended with general performance incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the record.

2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Yearly Income: $two.nine million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into Just about the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball history—Males's or Girls’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His recent agreement features a foundation wage, media obligations, attire discounts, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Even though UConn has faced modern issues with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his price higher.

3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $2.seven million

Just after A prosperous two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her next year Together with the Tigers, she led them to some M88 2023 national championship, bringing a brand new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her high-profile arrival arrived by using a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.6 million contract, earning her considered one of the very best-paid Gals’s coaches ever. Noted 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 Annual Income: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a product of consistency at Maryland since taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in national competition for over 20 years.

Her long-expression impact and progress of leading-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her current deal features bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her dual commitment to athletics and college student enhancement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the highest-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire history and it has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate Four appearances.

When VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, advancement of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her position Amongst the all-time greats in coaching record.

A Changing Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The escalating salaries of these coaches are reflective in the increasing level of popularity and money viability of girls’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting extra nationwide Tv set discounts, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors are becoming more invested in women's sporting activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, Management, and achievements these coaches provide to their applications and the Activity as a whole.

Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at present lead how regarding earnings, numerous Other people are rising:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Every single of these coaches has designed considerable strides with their respective programs and will crack to the leading 5 in the approaching several years as Ladies's basketball proceeds to develop.

Closing Thoughts
The times of underfunded women’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command significant salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the tradition of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity continues to expand in popularity and help, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue climbing.

Women’s university basketball isn’t just preserving pace—it’s setting the tempo for the way forward for aggressive sporting activities.