5 Best-Compensated Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s college basketball has witnessed exponential progress in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Along with the increased reputation and business results of your Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these top rated-tier coaches provide for their teams and universities. As universities proceed to invest in their women’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the monetary rewards that include making powerhouse systems.
Below’s a consider the 5 maximum-paid out Gals’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their remarkable salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to be the gold conventional in Gals’s university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Considering the fact that taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Last 4 appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.four million deal, making her the highest-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball record. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the highest of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $2.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into The most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Adult men's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His existing agreement features a foundation wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. While UConn has faced recent problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his worth significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $two.seven million
After A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by signing up for LSU in 2021. In just her 2nd period Together with the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a brand new level of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival came having a lucrative eight-12 months, $23.6 million deal, creating her among the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to M88 LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly developed a product of consistency at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With a number of conference championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period affect and improvement of major-tier talent have built her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal features bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and scholar improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Annual Wage: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the highest-paid out coaches and also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win file and it has led Stanford to 3 national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.
Though VanDerveer has never been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, development of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching record.
A Altering Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your growing reputation and economic viability of girls’s higher education basketball. Programs are attracting much more national TV offers, ticket product sales are escalating, and corporate sponsors are becoming more invested in women's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition of your effort, leadership, and accomplishment these coaches carry to their courses as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at present lead just how with regard to earnings, many Other individuals are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of those coaches has produced sizeable strides with their respective packages and could split into the top rated five in the approaching a long time as women's basketball carries on to develop.
Closing Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity proceeds to expand in popularity and help, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue climbing.
Women’s university basketball isn’t just holding tempo—it’s placing the rate for the way forward for competitive sports activities.