Gals’s faculty basketball has noticed exponential progress in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With all the greater attractiveness and professional success from the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these best-tier coaches deliver for their groups and universities. As universities keep on to take a position within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with developing powerhouse programs.
In this article’s a consider the five best-paid out Ladies’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their spectacular salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley continues for being the gold regular 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. Since taking up This system 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 very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of this checklist.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Yearly Wage: $two.9 million
A dwelling legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into Just about the most dominant dynasties in faculty basketball historical past—Gentlemen's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and consistent overall performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His present agreement features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. While UConn has confronted the latest issues with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his worth large.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State College (LSU)
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $2.7 million
Following a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where by she received 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period With all the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a completely new amount of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her higher-profile arrival arrived that has a worthwhile 8-year, $23.six million agreement, producing her certainly one of the best-paid out Females’s coaches at any time. Recognized 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 Once-a-year Wage: $one.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a design of consistency at Maryland due to the fact taking up in 2002. With multiple convention championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has kept the Terrapins in nationwide contention for more than two decades.
Her extensive-phrase effects and growth of leading-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her latest deal involves bonuses for educational functionality, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and pupil development.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Income: $one.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only among the best-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Gals's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get report and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.
When VanDerveer hasn't been one to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her leadership, advancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her position among the all-time greats in coaching background.
A Shifting Landscape M88 in Gals's Basketball
The expanding salaries of such coaches are reflective of the expanding reputation and fiscal viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Packages are attracting additional nationwide Tv set discounts, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors have become much more invested in Ladies's athletics.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition on the exertions, leadership, and achievement these coaches deliver for their packages along with the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
While these five coaches now direct how in terms of earnings, quite a few others are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Each and every of these coaches has built important strides with their respective applications and will break into your best 5 in the coming years as Girls's basketball continues to improve.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s plans and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not only command substantial salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Girls’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity carries on to mature in level of popularity and aid, we are able to anticipate these salaries—as well as profiles of such leaders—to continue soaring.
Girls’s college basketball isn’t just retaining speed—it’s location the pace for the future of aggressive athletics.