5 Highest-Compensated Ladies's Faculty Basketball Coaches

Women of all ages’s university basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Together with the amplified attractiveness and professional success of the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the value and leadership these leading-tier coaches bring for their groups and universities. As universities keep on to take a position in their women’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that come with building powerhouse courses.

Below’s a consider the 5 optimum-paid out Gals’s school basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their impressive salaries but will also the achievements that justify their elite payment.

1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $3.one million

Dawn Staley continues being the gold common in Ladies’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple NCAA Closing Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.4 million deal, creating her the best-paid Black head mentor in women's higher education basketball history. That deal has considering the fact that been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the best of this checklist.

two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Annual Wage: $two.nine million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in university basketball record—Males's or Females’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured worthwhile contract renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Although UConn has faced modern worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit high.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Believed Yearly Wage: $2.7 million

Right after a successful two-decade run at Baylor, where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time with the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a completely new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her higher-profile arrival arrived that has a beneficial 8-yr, $23.six million agreement, producing her among the very best-paid out Females’s coaches ever. Recognized for her passionate coaching type, flamboyant style, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in women's hoops.

four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Salary: $one.4 million

Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a design of regularity at Maryland considering that taking up in 2002. With numerous convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in national contention for over twenty years.

Her long-expression affect and improvement of major-tier expertise have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her existing offer contains bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil enhancement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $1.three million

Tara VanDerveer is not only one among the best-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 a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.

Although VanDerveer has not been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, growth of M88 WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place among the all-time greats in coaching background.

A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the increasing level of popularity and economical viability of girls’s college basketball. Programs are attracting much more national TV offers, ticket revenue are growing, and corporate sponsors are becoming more invested in women's sporting activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not merely a sign of progress—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and achievements these coaches provide to their applications and also the Activity in general.

Honorable Mentions
Even though these five coaches currently guide the best way with regards to earnings, numerous others are rising:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Just about every of these coaches has made sizeable strides with their respective systems and could crack in to the top 5 in the coming yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to increase.

Last Feelings
The days of underfunded women’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to grow in level of popularity and assistance, we can easily anticipate these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.

Ladies’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining tempo—it’s location the pace for the future of competitive athletics.