Women of all ages’s school basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past decade. With the elevated acceptance and professional success in the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these leading-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate inside their Gals’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that come with setting up powerhouse courses.
In this article’s a consider the five highest-compensated Gals’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their amazing salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold standard in Women of all ages’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Women of all ages's higher education basketball history. That deal has given that been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $2.nine million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in university basketball heritage—men's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured worthwhile deal renewals. His current contract includes a base wage, media obligations, attire discounts, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted current problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his price significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-ten years run at Baylor, the place she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball planet by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time Along with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a completely new amount of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival arrived which has a valuable eight-calendar year, $23.6 million contract, making her one among the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching fashion, flamboyant fashion, 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 built a product of consistency at Maryland since taking on in 2002. With several conference championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide contention for over two decades.
Her M88 very long-phrase effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have created her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent offer involves bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and scholar improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Yearly Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply one of the very best-compensated coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire history and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Remaining Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been a person 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 place One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Switching Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective of your growing reputation and fiscal viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Courses are attracting more countrywide Television set deals, ticket sales are increasing, and corporate sponsors are getting to be a lot more invested in Girls's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition with the exertions, leadership, and good results these coaches carry to their applications and the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches now guide the best way with regards to earnings, numerous Other people are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of those coaches has created substantial strides with their respective programs and will break into your prime five in the approaching a long time as Ladies's basketball proceeds to increase.
Final Views
The days of underfunded Gals’s plans and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command significant salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the sport carries on to mature in level of popularity and help, we can easily count on these salaries—and the profiles of those leaders—to carry on rising.
Girls’s college basketball isn’t just preserving rate—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for competitive sports activities.