five Best-Compensated Ladies's College Basketball Coaches
five Best-Compensated Ladies's College Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Ladies’s college basketball has witnessed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. Using the enhanced acceptance and business results with the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these leading-tier coaches deliver for their teams and universities. As universities carry on to invest of their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the money benefits that include constructing powerhouse systems.
Here’s a look at the five highest-paid Gals’s higher education basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their amazing salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Estimated Once-a-year Wage: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley proceeds being the gold normal in women’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Final Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she created headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.4 million deal, earning her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and extended with efficiency incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Wage: $2.nine million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has reworked the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in college basketball history—men's or Women of all ages’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular performance have ensured rewarding contract renewals. His latest contract features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. Whilst UConn has faced new troubles with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his value superior.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Income: $two.7 million
Right after An effective two-decade run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In just her 2nd year Together with the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a brand new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived that has a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.six million contract, producing her amongst the very best-paid out Gals’s coaches at any time. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Yearly Salary: $1.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a product of consistency at Maryland since taking over in 2002. With many convention championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in national rivalry for over 20 years.
Her lengthy-term effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal consists of bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin motivation to athletics and university student progress.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely considered one of the highest-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn report and M88 it has led Stanford to 3 national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Remaining 4 appearances.
When VanDerveer has never been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her place among the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Changing Landscape in Ladies's Basketball
The increasing salaries of such coaches are reflective on the increasing popularity and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Plans are attracting much more countrywide Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors have become extra invested in Girls's sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of your labor, Management, and success these coaches convey for their courses as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Though these five coaches at the moment lead the way when it comes to earnings, various Other folks are going up:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every of such coaches has made significant strides with their respective packages and could split into the leading 5 in the approaching many years as Women of all ages's basketball proceeds to improve.
Final Feelings
The days of underfunded Girls’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command significant salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the tradition of their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. As being the sport carries on to increase in popularity and help, we are able to count on these salaries—along with the profiles of those leaders—to continue rising.
Women’s college basketball isn’t just holding tempo—it’s location the speed for the future of aggressive sports activities.