five Optimum-Compensated Women's College or university Basketball Coaches
five Optimum-Compensated Women's College or university Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women’s university basketball has observed exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. With the increased popularity and business achievements of your Activity, specifically in NCAA Division I programs, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and Management these prime-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities continue to speculate of their Girls’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the money rewards that include developing powerhouse plans.
Listed here’s a look at the 5 optimum-paid women’s college basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing don't just their outstanding salaries but in addition the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $three.one million
Dawn Staley continues to get the gold regular in Females’s college or university basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to several NCAA Remaining Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.4 million deal, creating her the best-compensated Black head coach in Girls's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the best of the checklist.
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 commenced in 1985, has reworked the program into One of the more dominant dynasties in university basketball record—Males's or Girls’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured worthwhile agreement renewals. His latest deal features a base income, media obligations, apparel bargains, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. While UConn has confronted recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management keep his value high.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Annual Salary: $two.seven million
Immediately after A prosperous two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period With all the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived that has a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.six million agreement, producing her among the best-paid out Ladies’s coaches at any time. Recognized for her passionate coaching fashion, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated 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 various convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide rivalry for over 20 years.
Her lengthy-expression influence and development of prime-tier expertise have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil progress.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Income: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one among the best-paid coaches and also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire history and has led Stanford to M88 three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Final Four appearances.
Although VanDerveer has not been a single to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her leadership, growth of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place One of the all-time greats in coaching record.
A Altering Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The rising salaries of such coaches are reflective with the growing level of popularity and financial viability of women’s college basketball. Applications are attracting much more nationwide TV specials, ticket income are growing, and company sponsors have gotten additional invested in Girls's sports.
The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition in the exertions, Management, and good results these coaches convey to their applications as well as Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at present lead just how concerning earnings, a number of Other people are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Just about every of those coaches has made sizeable strides with their respective packages and will split into your prime 5 in the coming decades as Girls's basketball continues to increase.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Girls’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity proceeds to expand in attractiveness and help, we can easily anticipate these salaries—plus the profiles of such leaders—to continue growing.
Women of all ages’s school basketball isn’t just preserving rate—it’s setting the tempo for the future of competitive sporting activities.