5 Highest-Paid Ladies's Faculty Basketball Coaches

Gals’s faculty basketball has seen exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past ten years. Along with the amplified popularity and commercial success of the Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and Management these major-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities go on to speculate within their Girls’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with developing powerhouse applications.

In this article’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their impressive salaries but will also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.

one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Annual Income: $3.one million

Dawn Staley continues to be the gold typical in Females’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Given that taking on the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to various NCAA Closing Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she made headlines by signing a historic seven-yr, $22.four million agreement, making her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with functionality incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this listing.

two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Wage: $two.nine million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to some jaw-dropping eleven nationwide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in school basketball historical past—Adult males's or women’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His existing agreement includes a base salary, media obligations, apparel offers, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Tournament runs. Although UConn has faced modern troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his price superior.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $2.7 million

Right after a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where she received a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by joining LSU in 2021. In just her 2nd time With all the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her superior-profile arrival came with a lucrative eight-yr, $23.6 million deal, generating her one among the highest-compensated Gals’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Ladies's hoops.

four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Income: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has retained the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over twenty years.

Her lengthy-time period effect and development of top rated-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent offer incorporates bonuses for academic general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and scholar improvement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Annual Wage: $one.three million

Tara VanDerveer is not merely considered one of the highest-compensated coaches but additionally the winningest coach in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn history and it has led Stanford to a few countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous M88 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 Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her spot One of the all-time greats in coaching heritage.

A Switching Landscape in Women's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating recognition and economic viability of women’s university basketball. Packages are attracting far more nationwide Television bargains, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors have become much more invested in Ladies's sports.

The increase in coaching salaries is not simply an indication of progress—it’s a recognition from the labor, Management, and results these coaches carry to their applications as well as the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
Even though these five coaches currently guide the best way with regards to earnings, a number of others are going up:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Every single of these coaches has built important strides with their respective plans and will break into your prime five in the coming years as Gals's basketball continues to mature.

Ultimate 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—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds to develop in attractiveness and help, we can easily count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.

Women’s faculty basketball isn’t just keeping tempo—it’s placing the rate for the way forward for competitive sports activities.