5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s university basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With the elevated reputation and industrial good results in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these leading-tier coaches deliver for their groups and universities. As universities keep on to invest in their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the money rewards that come with setting up powerhouse systems.
Below’s a look at the 5 optimum-paid women’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold standard in Girls’s school basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has developed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Given that taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.four million deal, creating her the best-paid Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of this checklist.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 national titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball history—Guys's or Gals’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His latest agreement features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. While UConn has faced current problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his worth significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $2.7 million
Right after An effective two-decade run at Baylor, exactly where she won three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball earth by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second season Using the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her large-profile arrival came with a worthwhile 8-12 months, $23.6 million contract, earning her amongst the very best-paid women’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching fashion, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Annual Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in countrywide contention for more than two decades.
Her extensive-phrase influence and enhancement of best-tier expertise have created M88 her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil progress.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Believed Annual Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one among the best-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn history and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Remaining 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer has not been just one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her leadership, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her position 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 growing recognition and economic viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting additional countrywide Tv set specials, ticket profits are raising, and company sponsors have gotten additional invested in Gals's athletics.
The rise in coaching salaries is not only an indication of development—it’s a recognition with the exertions, leadership, and good results these coaches deliver for their systems plus the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at present lead just how concerning earnings, many Other folks are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each of such coaches has created substantial strides with their respective courses and could break in the best 5 in the coming decades 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 not only command significant salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the culture of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity continues to increase in recognition and guidance, we are able to be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on increasing.
Gals’s school basketball isn’t just preserving rate—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.