5 Best-Compensated Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women of all ages's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s higher education basketball has found exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past ten years. While using the increased reputation and business results of the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and leadership these prime-tier coaches provide to their teams and universities. As universities carry on to invest in their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with creating powerhouse applications.
Here’s a think about the 5 maximum-paid Women of all ages’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their outstanding salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley carries on for being the gold standard in Women of all ages’s faculty basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has crafted South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Because taking up the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.4 million agreement, earning her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball record. That deal has due to the fact been restructured and prolonged with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of this listing.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into The most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball historical past—Adult men's or Ladies’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular general performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Even though UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his worth significant.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.7 million
Right after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she gained three national titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her next period Together with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival arrived using a worthwhile 8-year, $23.six million agreement, creating her certainly one of the highest-paid Females’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 – University of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly designed a design of regularity at Maryland due to the fact taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a M88 countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.
Her extended-time period effect and development of top rated-tier talent have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason achievements—illustrating her dual dedication to athletics and university student advancement.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Annual Wage: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one among the best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get file and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Switching Landscape in Women's Basketball
The growing salaries of those coaches are reflective in the increasing attractiveness and economical viability of girls’s college basketball. Programs are attracting more countrywide Television set specials, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors have gotten a lot more invested in Females's sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not merely an indication of progress—it’s a recognition from the hard work, Management, and accomplishment these coaches carry to their programs as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at present lead how regarding earnings, numerous Other people are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every single of these coaches has built important strides with their respective applications and will break in the best 5 in the coming decades as Girls's basketball continues to increase.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Females’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the tradition in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to improve in reputation and aid, we are able to be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on rising.
Girls’s college or university basketball isn’t just retaining speed—it’s location the pace for the future of competitive athletics.