5 Highest-Compensated Ladies's Faculty Basketball Coaches
5 Highest-Compensated Ladies's Faculty Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s college or university basketball has observed exponential progress in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. With the elevated reputation and industrial good results on the sport, especially in NCAA Division I plans, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these prime-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate inside their Girls’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that include constructing powerhouse plans.
Right here’s a look at the 5 greatest-paid Women of all ages’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their outstanding salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Annual Wage: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues to generally be the gold typical in Girls’s university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Due to the fact taking over This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to numerous NCAA Remaining Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, creating her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That deal has given that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this listing.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Wage: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Adult men's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and constant functionality have ensured valuable contract renewals. His present contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Whilst UConn has faced latest issues with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price substantial.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $two.7 million
Right after a successful two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In just her next time While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a completely new amount of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival came by using a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million contract, building her considered one of the best-paid out Girls’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a model of regularity at Maryland due to the fact taking over in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in national rivalry for more than twenty years.
Her very long-phrase impact and progress of prime-tier talent have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent deal contains bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and pupil growth.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Annual Wage: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not only certainly one of the highest-paid out coaches and also the winningest coach in NCAA Females's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn document and has led Stanford to three countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final 4 appearances.
Although VanDerveer hasn't been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, progress of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her location One of the all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Changing Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting additional countrywide TV deals, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors have become more invested in Females's sports.
The increase in coaching salaries is not just a sign of development—it’s a recognition with the exertions, Management, and good results these coaches deliver to their courses along with the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
Even though these 5 coaches at present guide the way concerning earnings, numerous Many others are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of those coaches has built major strides with their respective plans and will split in to the top 5 in the coming years as Girls's basketball continues to improve.
Closing Thoughts
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, shape the society in their universities, and elevate Girls’s basketball to new heights. As the sport carries on to develop in recognition and assistance, we can hope these salaries—as well as the profiles of those leaders—to carry on growing.
Women’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining speed—it’s environment the speed for M88 the way forward for competitive athletics.