Girls’s university basketball has noticed exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. Together with the elevated level of popularity and commercial good results with the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and Management these top-tier coaches bring for their groups and universities. As universities proceed to take a position within their Females’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the economical rewards that come with developing powerhouse plans.
Here’s a consider the 5 greatest-compensated Gals’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their spectacular salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Estimated Yearly Salary: $3.1 million
Dawn Staley proceeds to get the gold regular in women’s faculty basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Given that taking on This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Final Four appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-yr, $22.four million deal, making her the highest-paid Black head coach in Gals's school basketball historical past. That offer has since been restructured and extended with effectiveness incentives, inserting her firmly at the very best of this list.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Approximated Yearly Salary: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping 11 countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has transformed This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in school basketball history—Males's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable functionality have ensured worthwhile agreement renewals. His present deal includes a base wage, media obligations, clothing bargains, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event runs. Whilst UConn has confronted modern challenges with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management maintain his price large.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Estimated Yearly Wage: $two.seven million
Following An effective two-10 years operate at Baylor, the place she received a few national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball earth by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her next time With all the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 national championship, bringing a different stage of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival came that has a profitable eight-12 months, $23.six million agreement, building her among the highest-compensated women’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Wage: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a product of consistency at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in national rivalry for over twenty years.
Her very long-expression impact and improvement M88 of top-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present-day offer contains bonuses for academic performance, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her twin motivation to athletics and student progress.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Once-a-year Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply one among the best-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win history and has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.
When VanDerveer hasn't been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her Management, development of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her location among the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and financial viability of girls’s faculty basketball. Packages are attracting a lot more countrywide Television deals, ticket revenue are growing, and company sponsors are becoming additional invested in Gals's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not just a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of your exertions, leadership, and results these coaches deliver for their applications as well as sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at present direct just how regarding earnings, several Other folks are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has built significant strides with their respective packages and could break to the prime five in the approaching many years as Females's basketball continues to develop.
Last Thoughts
The times of underfunded women’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command large salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the society in their universities, and elevate Girls’s basketball to new heights. Since the sport carries on to expand in reputation and help, we can easily be expecting these salaries—along with the profiles of these leaders—to continue increasing.
Women of all ages’s college or university basketball isn’t just preserving pace—it’s environment the pace for the future of aggressive sports activities.