Ladies’s school basketball has noticed exponential expansion in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. With all the increased recognition and industrial achievement on the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I systems, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the value and leadership these top rated-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate inside their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the financial rewards that come with building powerhouse courses.
In this article’s a consider the five best-compensated Girls’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their amazing salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold standard in Gals’s college or university basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Because taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million contract, earning her the highest-compensated Black head coach in Girls's school basketball heritage. That offer has considering that been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $2.9 million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into one of the most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball record—Males's or Girls’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured worthwhile deal renewals. His present-day deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Whilst UConn has faced current problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership maintain his worth large.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $2.7 million
Right after An effective two-decade run at Baylor, where she received a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In just her next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a fresh level of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her large-profile arrival came having a valuable eight-12 months, $23.6 million agreement, generating her considered one of the very best-compensated Ladies’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $1.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a design of consistency at Maryland due to the fact taking over in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in countrywide competition for over two decades.
Her very long-phrase effect and progress of major-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her present offer includes bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and student growth.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is don't just certainly one of the very best-paid coaches and also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball record. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get file and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, M88 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.
Even though VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, growth of WNBA stars, and motivation to excellence have solidified her put Amongst the all-time greats in coaching history.
A Modifying Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your escalating recognition and monetary viability of women’s faculty basketball. Applications are attracting much more national TV deals, ticket sales are increasing, and company sponsors are getting to be extra invested in Women of all ages's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition with the labor, leadership, and achievement these coaches provide for their programs as well as the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at this time guide the way in which with regards to earnings, a number of Other people are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every of these coaches has built major strides with their respective packages and could crack in to the top 5 in the approaching years as Gals's basketball proceeds to grow.
Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Girls’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command superior salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, form the lifestyle in their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity continues to expand in reputation and aid, we are able to hope these salaries—as well as the profiles of those leaders—to carry on growing.
Women of all ages’s university basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the pace for the way forward for aggressive sports activities.