5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Females’s college basketball has observed exponential progress in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. While using the amplified popularity and commercial success from the sport, especially in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and Management these best-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities continue on to invest in their women’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the economical rewards that include creating powerhouse plans.
Right here’s a look at the 5 maximum-paid Women of all ages’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley carries on for being the gold standard in Girls’s university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.four million contract, earning her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Girls's college basketball historical past. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with overall performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of this listing.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Wage: $2.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball record—Males's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent performance have ensured beneficial agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted the latest challenges with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit high.
three. 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 three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next time Along with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival came by using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.6 million contract, earning her amongst the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly designed a design of regularity M88 at Maryland considering that taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in countrywide contention for more than two decades.
Her very long-phrase effects and growth of top-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day offer contains bonuses for tutorial effectiveness, wins, and postseason results—illustrating her dual dedication to athletics and scholar improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Salary: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely certainly one of the best-paid out coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get report and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.
Even though VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her Management, advancement of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her put among the all-time greats in coaching history.
A Changing Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The increasing salaries of such coaches are reflective of your escalating recognition and fiscal viability of women’s college basketball. Applications are attracting additional countrywide Tv set discounts, ticket revenue are expanding, and company sponsors are getting to be extra invested in Women of all ages's athletics.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition from the labor, leadership, and achievement these coaches deliver to their courses as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at the moment lead the way concerning earnings, various Some others are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of such coaches has created substantial strides with their respective courses and could crack to the top 5 in the approaching several years as Ladies's basketball proceeds to expand.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Females’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command higher salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. As being the sport carries on to improve in reputation and help, we are able to be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of these leaders—to continue increasing.
Women of all ages’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining speed—it’s setting the rate for the way forward for competitive sports activities.