five Best-Paid Ladies's Higher education Basketball Coaches

Gals’s school basketball has viewed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. Along with the elevated acceptance and business accomplishment with the sport, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and Management these prime-tier coaches provide to their teams and universities. As universities continue to speculate of their Gals’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that include making powerhouse packages.

Right here’s a look at the 5 greatest-compensated Gals’s higher education basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their extraordinary 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 proceeds for being the gold regular in Girls’s university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has developed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to various NCAA Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million contract, building her the highest-paid Black head mentor in women's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the very best of this listing.

two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Once-a-year Wage: $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—Gentlemen's or Women of all ages’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and consistent functionality have ensured valuable deal renewals. His current contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Although UConn has faced latest troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his price significant.

3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Wage: $2.7 million

Following a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball environment by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her second season Using the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a completely new stage of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.

Her higher-profile arrival came with a lucrative eight-yr, $23.six million agreement, producing her among the highest-compensated Females’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching design, flamboyant style, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Women of all ages's hoops.

4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Yearly Income: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly developed a product of consistency at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With several meeting championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide contention M88 for more than two decades.

Her very long-phrase effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal incorporates bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and student advancement.

five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Yearly 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 of all ages's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire history and it has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Ultimate 4 appearances.

When VanDerveer hasn't been 1 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 Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective with the escalating popularity and monetary viability of women’s school basketball. Applications are attracting a lot more national TV offers, ticket sales are increasing, and company sponsors are getting to be additional invested in Girls's athletics.

The rise in coaching salaries is not just an indication of progress—it’s a recognition from the hard work, Management, and accomplishment these coaches provide to their applications and the Activity as a whole.

Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at the moment lead just how concerning earnings, many 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 made sizeable strides with their respective packages and could split into the top rated five in the approaching many years as Women of all ages's basketball carries on to grow.

Ultimate Thoughts
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command substantial salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle in their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to mature in acceptance and support, we will hope these salaries—as well as 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.