5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Ladies’s faculty basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the increased recognition and industrial achievement in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities continue on to take a position within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a couple of standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with developing powerhouse applications.
Here’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their spectacular salaries but will also 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 be the gold conventional in Girls’s school basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has developed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.4 million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Girls's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the very best 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 eleven nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into The most dominant dynasties in college or university basketball background—Gentlemen's or Gals’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured profitable deal renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. While UConn has confronted recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management keep his value higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.seven million
After A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, the place she gained three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball earth by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival came having a profitable eight-12 months, $23.6 million deal, generating her one among the very best-compensated Gals’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate M88 coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of consistency at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With various meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in countrywide contention for more than two decades.
Her extensive-phrase effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer incorporates bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and college student enhancement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Annual Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one among the best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win document and has led Stanford to three countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Ultimate Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been 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 record.
A Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective on the expanding reputation and fiscal viability of girls’s faculty basketball. Courses are attracting more countrywide Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are escalating, and corporate sponsors are becoming much more invested in Girls's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition with the exertions, leadership, and achievement these coaches bring for their systems along with the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
When these five coaches presently guide how regarding earnings, a number of others are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each and every of such coaches has designed important strides with their respective applications and will break into your best 5 in the coming years as Girls's basketball continues to improve.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Gals’s plans and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just command large salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to mature in acceptance and support, we will expect these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to carry on growing.
Gals’s school basketball isn’t just trying to keep rate—it’s setting the tempo for the future of aggressive sporting activities.