5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
5 Best-Compensated Women's Higher education Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women’s higher education basketball has noticed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With the improved level of popularity and commercial achievement on the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and Management these major-tier coaches carry for their groups and universities. As universities go on to invest inside their Girls’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that come with setting up powerhouse applications.
Listed here’s a think about the 5 highest-paid out women’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their amazing salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite compensation.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley proceeds to be the gold regular in Females’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Final Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic 7-calendar year, $22.four million deal, generating her the best-compensated Black head mentor in Girls's university basketball record. That deal has since been restructured and prolonged with overall performance incentives, putting her firmly at the best of the record.
two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Wage: $two.nine million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has reworked This system into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Guys's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and constant performance have ensured lucrative agreement renewals. His present contract includes a base income, media obligations, apparel promotions, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Although UConn has faced recent worries with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his price higher.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana State College (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.7 million
Soon after An effective two-ten years run at Baylor, the place she gained 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball environment by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her 2nd year While using the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new level of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival came by using a profitable 8-calendar year, $23.6 million agreement, building her one of the highest-compensated Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in women's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Income: $1.4 million
Brenda Frese has quietly constructed a design of regularity at Maryland considering that taking on in 2002. With several convention championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for more than 20 years.
Her extended-time period effects and development of top-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent deal consists of bonuses for educational functionality, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and university student development.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Approximated Yearly Salary: $1.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not merely one among the very best-paid out coaches but in addition the winningest coach in NCAA Ladies's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time get report and it has led Stanford to a few national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Final Four appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer has not been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, development of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Switching Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The growing salaries of those coaches are reflective of your increasing recognition and monetary viability of women’s college or university basketball. Plans are attracting far more countrywide TV promotions, ticket income are escalating, and corporate sponsors are becoming far more invested in M88 women's sports activities.
The increase in coaching salaries is not merely an indication of development—it’s a recognition in the labor, leadership, and results these coaches deliver to their systems as well as the sport as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches at present lead the best way when it comes to earnings, various Many others are rising:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every single of those coaches has built substantial strides with their respective plans and could break in to the leading five in the coming several years as women's basketball carries on to improve.
Remaining Feelings
The days of underfunded women’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command large salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, condition the tradition of their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. As the Activity proceeds to mature in reputation and guidance, we can count on these salaries—as well as the profiles of such leaders—to continue increasing.
Women of all ages’s higher education basketball isn’t just trying to keep rate—it’s environment the pace for the way forward for aggressive athletics.