Females’s college basketball has witnessed exponential advancement in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. With the elevated reputation and industrial accomplishment on the Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I plans, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and Management these top rated-tier coaches provide to their teams and universities. As universities continue to speculate inside their Girls’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that include constructing powerhouse plans.

Here’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’s university 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 Annual Income: $3.one million

Dawn Staley continues to generally be the gold common in Ladies’s college basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up the program 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, producing her the best-paid out Black head mentor in Girls's university basketball historical past. That deal has considering the fact that been restructured and prolonged with performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the top of this listing.

two. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Estimated Annual Wage: $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 started in 1985, has remodeled This system into one of the most dominant dynasties in higher education basketball record—Males's or Girls’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured worthwhile agreement renewals. His latest deal features a foundation wage, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. When UConn has confronted new worries with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management retain his price significant.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $two.seven million

Immediately after A prosperous two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball entire world by becoming a member of LSU in M88 2021. In just her next year Along with the Tigers, she led them to your 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a fresh level of pleasure and Highlight to Baton Rouge.

Her large-profile arrival came which has a valuable eight-yr, $23.6 million deal, creating her certainly one of 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 given that taking on in 2002. With a number of conference championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide contention for more than two decades.

Her very long-phrase effects and growth of top-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Division. Her present-day deal incorporates bonuses for academic effectiveness, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her twin determination to athletics and pupil progress.

five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Yearly Income: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the highest-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time earn history and has led Stanford to three national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and diverse Ultimate 4 appearances.

Though VanDerveer has never been 1 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 put among the all-time greats in coaching history.

A Modifying Landscape in Girls's Basketball
The rising salaries of those coaches are reflective with the escalating popularity and financial viability of women’s school basketball. Applications are attracting much more national TV deals, ticket sales are increasing, and company sponsors have gotten additional invested in women's sporting activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition with the exertions, leadership, and achievement these coaches bring for their packages as well as the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
Although these five coaches presently direct the way in which when it comes to earnings, several Many others are going up:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Each and every of such coaches has manufactured considerable strides with their respective programs and will crack to the leading 5 in the coming yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to expand.

Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Females’s courses and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command high salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. Since the Activity continues to increase in popularity and assist, we can count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.

Women’s higher education basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.