5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Gals’s faculty basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the increased reputation and industrial good results on the sport, especially in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver to their groups and universities. As universities continue on to take a position within their Females’s athletics departments, a couple of standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with developing powerhouse programs.
In this article’s a consider the five best-paid out Females’s school basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their outstanding salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues to generally be the gold common in Ladies’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 up the program 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, creating her the best-paid Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with overall performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of this checklist.
two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual 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 university basketball heritage—Adult males's or Ladies’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and regular effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His present contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. While UConn has faced recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership keep his value high.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $two.seven million
Immediately after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period With all the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her significant-profile arrival came having a lucrative eight-yr, $23.six million agreement, producing her certainly one of the best-paid out Females’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 – College of Maryland
Approximated Annual Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a product of consistency at Maryland since taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in countrywide contention for more than two decades.
Her extensive-expression impact and progress of best-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present deal includes bonuses for educational general performance, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and college student development.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not simply certainly one of the very best-paid out coaches but will also the winningest coach in NCAA Females's basketball heritage. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win document and has led Stanford to a few countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
While VanDerveer has not been just one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, advancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her location Amongst the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape in Women's Basketball
The rising salaries of such coaches are reflective from the expanding level of popularity and fiscal viability of ladies’s school basketball. Courses are attracting far more nationwide Television specials, ticket profits are raising, and company sponsors have become a lot more invested in Gals's athletics.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of your labor, Management, and results these coaches bring for their plans along with the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches now guide how regarding earnings, a number of others are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has produced sizeable strides with their respective programs and could break into the top rated five in the approaching several years as Females's basketball proceeds to increase.
Last Feelings
The times of underfunded Gals’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just command substantial salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the society of M88 their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. As the sport carries on to expand in level of popularity and assist, we are able to hope these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to carry on increasing.
Women’s college or university basketball isn’t just preserving pace—it’s environment the rate for the future of competitive athletics.