Girls’s college basketball has observed exponential expansion in viewership, expertise, and competitiveness in the last 10 years. With the amplified recognition and commercial achievement from the sport, specifically in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to replicate the worth and leadership these leading-tier coaches bring for their teams and universities. As universities proceed to invest of their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, some standout coaches are reaping the money rewards that come with setting up powerhouse systems.

Listed here’s a look at the 5 maximum-paid Women of all ages’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their extraordinary salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.

1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Estimated Yearly Salary: $3.one million

Dawn Staley carries on to be the gold typical in Females’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has built South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Because 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 seven-calendar year, $22.4 million agreement, earning her the very best-compensated Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and extended with performance incentives, putting her firmly at the highest of the list.

2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $2.9 million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Gentlemen's or Women of all ages’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and constant efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His current contract includes a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted the latest challenges with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management continue to keep his benefit high.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Point out College (LSU)
Approximated Annual Salary: $two.seven million

Immediately after An effective two-10 years run at Baylor, exactly where she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd year Together with the Tigers, she led them into a 2023 national championship, bringing a brand new amount of pleasure and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her high-profile arrival arrived by using a worthwhile 8-calendar year, $23.6 million M88 contract, earning her considered one of the very best-paid Gals’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching model, flamboyant trend, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in women's hoops.

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

Brenda Frese has quietly developed a product of consistency at Maryland since taking up in 2002. With numerous meeting championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in countrywide contention for over twenty years.

Her extended-time period affect and development of top rated-tier talent have manufactured her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer contains bonuses for educational overall performance, wins, and postseason results—illustrating her twin dedication to athletics and scholar improvement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Salary: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is don't just certainly one of the very best-compensated coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Females's basketball heritage. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time win document and has led Stanford to a few nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Remaining 4 appearances.

Whilst VanDerveer has never been one particular to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her spot One of the all-time greats in coaching historical past.

A Transforming Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the expanding acceptance and fiscal viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide Tv set discounts, ticket profits are raising, and corporate sponsors have become much more invested in Ladies's sports.

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

Honorable Mentions
Even though these five coaches now direct the way in which 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 created significant strides with their respective courses and could crack to the top five in the approaching several years as Ladies's basketball carries on to develop.

Closing Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate Women of all ages’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds to expand in attractiveness and help, we can easily anticipate these salaries—plus the profiles of these leaders—to continue climbing.

Women’s university basketball isn’t just holding pace—it’s environment the tempo for the way forward for aggressive sporting activities.