5 Best-Compensated Women's University Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's University Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Ladies’s university basketball has witnessed exponential growth in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness over the past ten years. Using the amplified acceptance and professional achievement with the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver to their teams and universities. As universities proceed to take a position within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the economical benefits that include making powerhouse plans.
Listed here’s a consider the five greatest-paid Ladies’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $three.one million
Dawn Staley proceeds to generally be the gold typical in Girls’s university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Last Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic 7-yr, $22.four million deal, generating her the best-paid out Black head coach in Gals's faculty basketball record. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $2.nine million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping 11 nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which started in 1985, has reworked This system into Probably the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball history—Guys's or Girls’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and dependable efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His current contract includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Whilst UConn has faced current problems with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership maintain his worth substantial.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State University (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Income: $two.7 million
Right after An effective two-decade operate at Baylor, where by she received 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball globe by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd year Together with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a brand new level of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival came which has a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million contract, creating her one of the best-paid out women’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly designed a design of consistency at Maryland due to the fact taking up in 2002. With numerous convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in countrywide contention for over twenty years.
Her prolonged-term affect and improvement of top rated-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer involves bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and student growth.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Estimated Yearly Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not just considered one of the best-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor M88 in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn history and it has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Ultimate 4 appearances.
Though VanDerveer has never been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, progress of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Transforming Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The growing salaries of these coaches are reflective in the increasing attractiveness and economical viability of girls’s college basketball. Applications are attracting much more national TV offers, ticket revenue are growing, and corporate sponsors are becoming extra invested in Women of all ages's sporting activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not just an indication of progress—it’s a recognition from the hard work, Management, and results these coaches provide to their programs as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Though these 5 coaches at present guide 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 designed important strides with their respective applications and will break in the leading 5 in the coming yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to expand.
Final Ideas
The times of underfunded Females’s courses 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. Since the Activity continues to expand in popularity and assist, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue climbing.
Women’s university basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.