5 Best-Compensated Women's University Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s college or university basketball has noticed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. While using the improved level of popularity and business success from the sport, especially in NCAA Division I plans, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these top-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate of their Gals’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the money rewards that come with building powerhouse programs.
In this article’s a think about 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 payment.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on for being the gold conventional in Women of all ages’s higher education basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.4 million agreement, earning her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That deal has due to the fact been restructured and extended with general performance incentives, placing her firmly at the highest of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Wage: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping eleven nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has remodeled the program into Just about the most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball heritage—men's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular overall performance have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His present contract includes a base wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event runs. Even though UConn has confronted new challenges with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.7 million
Right after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she won three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball environment by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 national championship, bringing a fresh degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival arrived by using a worthwhile 8-year, $23.six million agreement, creating her certainly one of the highest-compensated Girls’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a product of regularity at Maryland considering the fact that taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide competition for more than 20 years.
Her long-term influence and advancement of best-tier expertise have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her current deal includes bonuses for educational overall performance, wins, and postseason achievements—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil progress.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated 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 Ladies's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain document and has led Stanford to a few countrywide 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 properly compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her spot Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Changing Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating popularity and monetary viability of M88 women’s higher education basketball. Packages are attracting additional countrywide Tv set specials, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors have gotten additional invested in Gals'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 deliver to their programs and the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these 5 coaches now direct the way in which when it comes to earnings, a number of others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of such coaches has manufactured considerable strides with their respective applications and will break into your top rated five in the approaching a long time as women's basketball proceeds to expand.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Girls’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just command substantial salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity continues to improve in reputation and support, we will expect these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to continue mounting.
Women’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining tempo—it’s location the rate for the future of competitive athletics.