Ladies’s higher education basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With all the enhanced level of popularity and professional achievements of your Activity, particularly in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to mirror the value and Management these major-tier coaches convey for their teams and universities. As universities carry on to invest of their Gals’s athletics departments, a number of standout coaches are reaping the fiscal rewards that include making powerhouse packages.

Right 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.1 million

Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold conventional in Girls’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 national championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic seven-yr, $22.four million deal, producing her the very best-compensated Black head coach in Women of all ages's higher education basketball history. That deal has due to the fact been restructured and extended with effectiveness incentives, placing her firmly at the very best of the record.

two. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Estimated Yearly Income: $two.nine million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into 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 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 Yearly Salary: $2.seven million

Just after A prosperous two-ten years run at Baylor, the place she won three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her next year Together with 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 contract, earning her amongst the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Females's hoops.

four. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $one.4 million

Brenda Frese has quietly designed a design of regularity M88 at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With many conference championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Tournament appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in national rivalry for over 20 years.

Her lengthy-expression influence and enhancement of prime-tier expertise have created her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her present offer includes bonuses for educational performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her dual motivation to athletics and student progress.

five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Estimated Yearly Wage: $one.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not only considered one of the highest-paid out coaches but will also the winningest coach in NCAA Ladies's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire record and has led Stanford to a few countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.

Though VanDerveer has never been one particular to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are correctly compensated. Her Management, development of WNBA stars, and dedication to excellence have solidified her area Among the many all-time greats in coaching record.

A Altering Landscape in Females's Basketball
The raising salaries of such coaches are reflective of your growing reputation and fiscal viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Systems are attracting extra countrywide Television set discounts, ticket sales are escalating, and corporate sponsors have become a lot more invested in Females's sports activities.

The rise in coaching salaries is not simply a sign of development—it’s a recognition of your effort, Management, and accomplishment these coaches provide to their applications as well as Activity as a whole.

Honorable Mentions
While these 5 coaches at this time direct the way in terms of earnings, quite a few Some others are on the rise:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Each of such coaches has created significant strides with their respective courses and could crack to the top 5 in the approaching yrs as Females's basketball carries on to develop.

Remaining Ideas
The times of underfunded Ladies’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command large salaries—they also mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to increase in recognition and guidance, we can be expecting these salaries—plus the profiles of these leaders—to continue mounting.

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