five Best-Compensated Women's Faculty Basketball Coaches
five Best-Compensated Women's Faculty Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s college basketball has observed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last decade. With the improved acceptance and business accomplishment with the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I plans, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these top rated-tier coaches provide to their teams and universities. As universities continue 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 think about the 5 greatest-compensated Gals’s higher education basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their extraordinary salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Estimated Yearly Salary: $three.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become 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 This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Final Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she created headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.four million contract, earning her the best-paid out Black head mentor in Females's college basketball heritage. That offer has due to the fact been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the checklist.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Annual Wage: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed This system into One of the more dominant dynasties in college or university basketball historical past—Adult men's or women’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular general performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament operates. While UConn has faced modern worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his value higher.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Income: $two.seven million
Immediately after A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In only her next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived that has a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million agreement, generating her one among the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Annual Income: $1.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly designed a design of regularity at Maryland due to the fact taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in national rivalry for over twenty years.
Her prolonged-phrase influence and improvement of major-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present offer consists of bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and pupil enhancement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Believed Annual Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just among the highest-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball heritage. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win document and has led Stanford to a few countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various 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, progress of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her location One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Switching Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective on the escalating popularity and economic viability of women’s university basketball. Packages are attracting additional nationwide Tv set specials, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors have gotten additional invested in Gals's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of the effort, Management, and results these coaches convey for their plans as well as the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
When these five coaches at present lead just how concerning earnings, various Other M88 folks are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has manufactured considerable strides with their respective programs and will break into your prime five in the coming yrs as Gals's basketball carries on to increase.
Last Views
The days of underfunded women’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. As the sport proceeds to develop in attractiveness and assist, we can easily count on these salaries—and the profiles of those leaders—to continue rising.
Girls’s college basketball isn’t just trying to keep rate—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.