Women of all ages’s higher education basketball has seen exponential development in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the increased 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, a handful of 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 – College of South Carolina
Estimated Yearly Salary: $three.one million

Dawn Staley carries on to be the gold typical in Females’s school 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 many NCAA Last 4 appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she built headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.4 million deal, producing her the best-paid Black head coach in Gals's university basketball heritage. That deal has considering that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of this checklist.

2. Geno Auriemma – College of Connecticut
Believed Annual Salary: $2.9 million

A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to your jaw-dropping eleven national 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 consistent efficiency have ensured beneficial deal renewals. His present-day deal features a foundation income, media obligations, clothing deals, 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 superior.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Income: $two.7 million

Soon after An effective two-decade operate at Baylor, where by she received 3 nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball world by signing up for LSU in 2021. In only her second season with the Tigers, she led them to a 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.

Her superior-profile arrival arrived by using a rewarding 8-calendar year, $23.6 million contract, earning her amongst the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches ever. Known for her passionate coaching design and style, 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: $one.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 national competition for more than 20 years.

Her extensive-phrase effects and growth of leading-tier expertise have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her current deal features bonuses for educational general performance, wins, and postseason good results—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and college student enhancement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Yearly Income: $one.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the highest-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA Ladies's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain record and has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Last Four appearances.

Although VanDerveer has not been a person to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her leadership, improvement of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching record.

A Changing Landscape in Women's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective in the increasing level of popularity and economical viability of girls’s college basketball. Programs are attracting more countrywide Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors have become a lot 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 deliver for M88 their systems along with the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
Even though these five coaches currently direct the way in which when it comes to earnings, quite a few Some others are increasing:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Each and every of such coaches has manufactured substantial strides with their respective programs and could crack to the top 5 in the approaching several years as Ladies's basketball proceeds to develop.

Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not merely command superior salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the culture of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds to develop in attractiveness and assistance, we could anticipate these salaries—plus the profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.

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