five Greatest-Paid Girls's College Basketball Coaches
five Greatest-Paid Girls's College Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Ladies’s university basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With all the greater level of popularity and professional achievements of your Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I systems, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and leadership these top-tier coaches bring for their teams and universities. As universities proceed 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 programs.
In this article’s a consider the five best-paid out Ladies’s school 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
Believed Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold conventional in Girls’s university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Because taking on This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to various NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she made headlines by signing a historic seven-12 months, $22.four million deal, generating her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Ladies's college or university basketball heritage. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of the checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in school basketball historical past—Adult males's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable efficiency have ensured worthwhile agreement renewals. His latest deal features a base income, media obligations, attire promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Whilst UConn has confronted the latest worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his worth higher.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition College (LSU)
Believed Yearly Income: $two.seven million
Just after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, where she won 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball planet by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In only her next year With all the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a new stage of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival came that has a worthwhile eight-year, $23.six million agreement, creating her certainly one of the highest-paid out Women of all ages’s coaches ever. Known for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Once-a-year Income: $one.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a model of regularity at Maryland due to the fact taking up in 2002. With multiple conference championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in nationwide contention for over twenty years.
Her lengthy-term effect and advancement of top-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and student advancement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Annual Wage: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one of the highest-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Girls's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain document M88 and it has led Stanford to 3 nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Last 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer has not been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her put One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Switching Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your expanding attractiveness and economic viability of ladies’s college or university basketball. Applications are attracting far more nationwide Television deals, ticket sales are growing, and company sponsors have become far more invested in Females's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition in the hard work, Management, and good results these coaches carry for their programs as well as sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Although these 5 coaches at this time lead the best way with regards to earnings, many Other individuals are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every single of these coaches has created significant strides with their respective programs and could split into your prime 5 in the approaching a long time as Gals's basketball continues to expand.
Closing Feelings
The times of underfunded Ladies’s plans and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just command high salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture in their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. Since the sport continues to expand in reputation and aid, we can easily expect these salaries—as well as the profiles of these leaders—to carry on soaring.
Women of all ages’s college basketball isn’t just keeping rate—it’s location the tempo for the future of aggressive athletics.