5 Highest-Paid out Females's University Basketball Coaches
5 Highest-Paid out Females's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Females’s school basketball has viewed exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. Along with the amplified popularity and commercial achievement from the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these leading-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities continue to invest in their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that come with building powerhouse courses.
Below’s a look at the five optimum-paid women’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their outstanding salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues to generally be the gold common in Ladies’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Because taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Final Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic seven-yr, $22.four million contract, building her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Ladies's college or university basketball background. That offer has since been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the best of the checklist.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started 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 reliable general performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His recent agreement features a foundation wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. When UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his benefit superior.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $two.seven million
Immediately after A prosperous two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she won M88 three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her next time While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival came having a lucrative eight-yr, $23.6 million deal, generating her among the highest-compensated women’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching type, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a product of consistency at Maryland since 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-term effects and advancement of top-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal incorporates bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and pupil enhancement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply one of the highest-paid out coaches and also 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 nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Remaining 4 appearances.
Even though VanDerveer has not been just one 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 position Amongst the all-time greats in coaching history.
A Altering Landscape in Women's Basketball
The growing salaries of those coaches are reflective on the expanding recognition and monetary viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting additional nationwide TV promotions, ticket gross sales are raising, and corporate sponsors are becoming far more invested in Females's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only an indication of progress—it’s a recognition of your labor, Management, and good results these coaches convey to their programs plus the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
When these 5 coaches presently direct just how when it comes to earnings, various Other individuals are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of those coaches has manufactured sizeable strides with their respective applications and could split to the top 5 in the approaching years as Ladies's basketball carries on to expand.
Ultimate Ideas
The days of underfunded Females’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command superior salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, form the culture in their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Since the sport proceeds to increase in level of popularity and guidance, we are able to anticipate these salaries—and the profiles of those leaders—to carry on climbing.
Girls’s university basketball isn’t just keeping speed—it’s setting the speed for the future of competitive sports.