Females’s college or university basketball has seen exponential expansion in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. With the greater recognition and commercial good results from the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the value and leadership these top-tier coaches convey to their groups and universities. As universities keep on to speculate inside their Ladies’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the financial rewards that include creating powerhouse systems.
Here’s a look at the five best-paid Gals’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their extraordinary salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $3.1 million
Dawn Staley continues to get the gold typical in Girls’s higher education basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has developed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking on This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Remaining 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she created headlines by signing a historic seven-yr, $22.four million deal, building her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in women's college or university basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and extended with functionality incentives, inserting her firmly at the highest of this list.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Yearly Wage: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has transformed the program into Probably the most dominant dynasties in college basketball historical past—Adult men's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured beneficial contract renewals. His current contract includes a foundation income, media obligations, attire promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has faced new troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management keep his worth significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition College (LSU)
Believed Annual Wage: $2.seven million
Following A prosperous two-10 years operate at Baylor, the place she gained a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball entire world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd year with the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a brand new amount of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival came having a profitable 8-year, $23.six million contract, generating her considered one of the very best-paid Ladies’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $one.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a design of consistency at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With several convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in national contention for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period effect and enhancement of best-tier talent have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her latest deal incorporates bonuses for educational overall performance, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and scholar growth.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely considered one of the very best-paid coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Ladies's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win file and it has led Stanford to a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Remaining 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer hasn't been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford M88 has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, development of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her area One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Transforming Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The raising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the rising recognition and economic viability of girls’s university basketball. Courses are attracting extra nationwide Television set specials, ticket profits are growing, and company sponsors are becoming extra invested in Females's sporting activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not simply an indication of development—it’s a recognition of your labor, Management, and good results these coaches bring to their packages and the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these 5 coaches at present direct how in terms of earnings, various Other individuals are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every of such coaches has designed substantial strides with their respective systems and will split to the prime five in the approaching many years as Girls's basketball carries on to improve.
Ultimate Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command substantial salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the society of their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity continues to expand in level of popularity and guidance, we could anticipate these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on soaring.
Women’s school basketball isn’t just maintaining rate—it’s environment the rate for the future of aggressive sports activities.