5 Greatest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
5 Greatest-Paid Females's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Ladies’s college basketball has observed exponential progress in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. While using the increased acceptance and commercial results in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I systems, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and leadership these major-tier coaches carry for their groups and universities. As universities go on to take a position of their Ladies’s athletics departments, a handful of standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that come with constructing powerhouse courses.
Here’s a look at the 5 highest-compensated Females’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their amazing salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Salary: $3.1 million
Dawn Staley proceeds to get the gold typical in Women of all ages’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering the fact that taking over This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Closing Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic 7-yr, $22.4 million contract, creating her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Women of all ages's university basketball historical past. That offer has since been restructured and prolonged with general performance incentives, putting her firmly at the best of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Wage: $two.nine million
A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in higher education basketball record—Males's or Girls’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent efficiency have ensured worthwhile deal renewals. His present agreement features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. While UConn has confronted recent problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his worth large.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.seven million
Immediately after A prosperous two-decade operate at Baylor, the place she received a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her superior-profile arrival came using a rewarding 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 manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in women's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly crafted a design of regularity at Maryland M88 due to the fact taking up in 2002. With a number of convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide competition for more than 20 years.
Her long-expression impact and progress of best-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present offer includes bonuses for educational performance, wins, and postseason results—illustrating her dual dedication to athletics and university student improvement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not just considered one of the best-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn record and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Remaining 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer has never been one particular 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 area Amongst the all-time greats in coaching record.
A Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your growing acceptance and money viability of girls’s college or university basketball. Programs are attracting much more national TV deals, ticket revenue are escalating, and corporate sponsors are becoming more invested in women's sporting activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of your effort, Management, and accomplishment these coaches carry to their plans as well as the Activity in general.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches currently guide how with regard to earnings, numerous Other individuals are on the rise:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each individual of those coaches has produced sizeable strides with their respective systems and could crack in to the top 5 in the approaching yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to expand.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Females’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle in their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to grow in acceptance and support, we will expect these salaries—along with the profiles of such leaders—to continue growing.
Gals’s school basketball isn’t just preserving pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.