Females’s school basketball has viewed exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. While using the increased recognition and industrial good results in the sport, especially in NCAA Division I applications, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these top rated-tier coaches provide to their teams and universities. As universities continue to speculate inside their Girls’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the monetary benefits that include developing powerhouse plans.
Listed here’s a look at the 5 maximum-paid Women of all ages’s college or university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not simply their amazing salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Approximated Once-a-year Wage: $three.1 million
Dawn Staley continues being the gold regular in Women of all ages’s college or university 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 Ultimate 4 appearances and two national championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she designed headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million contract, building her the highest-paid out Black head mentor in Ladies's faculty basketball background. That deal has since been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the list.
2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Salary: $2.9 million
A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping eleven national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Males's or Ladies’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable overall performance have ensured worthwhile agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted the latest challenges with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit high.
three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Yearly Salary: $2.seven million
Just after A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, wherever she gained 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd season Using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different amount of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her substantial-profile arrival arrived which has a valuable eight-yr, $23.6 million contract, generating her considered one of the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches ever. Known for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
four. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Believed Yearly Wage: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly built a design of regularity at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With several conference championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in national competition for more than two decades.
Her prolonged-expression impression and development of leading-tier expertise have created her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her present-day deal consists of bonuses for academic functionality, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her dual dedication to athletics and scholar growth.
five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Believed Yearly Income: $one.3 million
Tara VanDerveer is not only one of the very best-paid out coaches and also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls's basketball background. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn history and has led Stanford to a few countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Closing 4 appearances.
Whilst VanDerveer has never been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are appropriately compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her put Among the many all-time greats in coaching historical past.
A Changing Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The growing salaries of such coaches are reflective of your escalating level of popularity and monetary viability of ladies’s higher education basketball. Systems are attracting much more national Television deals, ticket gross sales are escalating, and company sponsors are getting to be far more invested in Girls's sports.
The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition of your effort, Management, and achievement these coaches carry for their courses as well as the Activity as a whole.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these 5 coaches at this time direct the way in terms of earnings, quite a few Some others are increasing:
Kelly Graves (Oregon)
Vic Schaefer (Texas)
Jeff Walz (Louisville)
Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)
Every of such coaches has manufactured considerable strides with their respective programs and will break in the leading 5 in the coming yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to increase.
Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Girls’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply M88 command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the lifestyle in their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to mature in acceptance and support, we will hope these salaries—as well as the profiles of such leaders—to carry on growing.
Gals’s school basketball isn’t just preserving rate—it’s setting the tempo for the future of aggressive sporting activities.