Women’s higher education basketball has found exponential expansion in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past 10 years. With the improved reputation and business accomplishment with the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I plans, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the worth and Management these prime-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities continue on to take a position within their Ladies’s athletics departments, a couple of standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that come with building powerhouse courses.

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 remarkable salaries but additionally the achievements that justify their elite payment.

1. Dawn Staley – College of South Carolina
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $three.1 million

Dawn Staley carries on to generally be the gold normal in Females’s college basketball coaching. A previous WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has created South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking over This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to numerous NCAA Final Four appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she created headlines by signing a historic 7-12 months, $22.four million contract, building her the very best-paid Black head mentor in Females's college or university basketball background. That offer has because been restructured and extended with overall performance incentives, inserting her firmly at the best of the list.

2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Believed Once-a-year Income: $2.9 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 or university basketball history—Guys's or Gals’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and dependable overall performance have ensured worthwhile deal renewals. His latest deal features a foundation income, media obligations, attire specials, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match operates. When UConn has confronted modern troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and Management hold his price significant.

three. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Once-a-year Income: $two.7 million

Right after a successful two-decade operate at Baylor, where by she received 3 national titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball environment by signing up for LSU in 2021. In just her second season with the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.

Her substantial-profile arrival came with a valuable eight-yr, $23.six million agreement, earning her certainly one of the best-compensated women’s coaches at any time. Noted for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Gals's hoops.

4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Estimated Once-a-year Salary: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly built a product of consistency at Maryland given that taking up in 2002. With a number of conference championships, a national title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has stored the Terrapins in national competition for over 20 years.

Her long-expression influence and progress of best-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present deal features bonuses for educational general performance, wins, and postseason accomplishment—illustrating her twin commitment to athletics and college student enhancement.

5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is not merely amongst the highest-paid coaches but in addition the winningest mentor in NCAA Women of all ages's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time acquire report and it has led Stanford to 3 countrywide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Last Four appearances.

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

A Switching Landscape in Women's Basketball
The growing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the expanding acceptance and fiscal viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Courses are attracting extra countrywide Tv set discounts, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors are becoming more invested in women's sporting activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and achievements these coaches convey for their packages as well as the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
Although these 5 coaches at this time 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 manufactured considerable strides with their respective programs and will break in the best five in the coming a long time as Gals's basketball proceeds to grow.

Final Feelings
The times of underfunded Ladies’s programs and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not simply command higher salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, shape the tradition in their universities, and elevate women’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity continues to increase in recognition 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 M88 just keeping tempo—it’s placing the speed for the way forward for aggressive sports.