5 Greatest-Paid Girls's School Basketball Coaches
5 Greatest-Paid Girls's School Basketball Coaches
Blog Article
Women of all ages’s college basketball has witnessed exponential advancement in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the elevated reputation and business results of the sport, particularly in NCAA Division I courses, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and leadership these best-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities carry on to invest of their Women of all ages’s athletics departments, a few standout coaches are reaping the financial benefits that include constructing powerhouse applications.
Listed here’s a consider the five highest-compensated Gals’s faculty basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not merely their remarkable salaries but also the achievements that justify their elite payment.
1. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Approximated Annual Income: $3.one million
Dawn Staley carries on to become the gold standard in Gals’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has constructed South Carolina right into a perennial powerhouse. Considering that taking over This system in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to multiple NCAA Closing Four appearances and two nationwide championships (2017 and 2022).
In 2021, she produced headlines by signing a historic seven-year, $22.4 million deal, producing her the best-paid Black head mentor in Ladies's college or university basketball historical past. That offer has because been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the very best of the record.
2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $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 commenced in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in school basketball heritage—men's or Females’s.
Auriemma’s longevity and reliable performance have ensured rewarding agreement renewals. His latest deal features a base income, media obligations, apparel bargains, and hefty bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Even though UConn has confronted recent difficulties with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership preserve his worth substantial.
3. Kim Mulkey – Louisiana Condition University (LSU)
Estimated Annual Salary: $2.seven million
After a successful two-ten years operate at Baylor, where by she received a few nationwide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining M88 LSU in 2021. In just her next year While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 countrywide championship, bringing a different stage of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.
Her high-profile arrival arrived that has a beneficial 8-year, $23.six million agreement, generating her one among the highest-compensated Gals’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant manner, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.
4. Brenda Frese – College of Maryland
Approximated Annual Income: $1.four million
Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various conference championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide competition for more than twenty years.
Her prolonged-term effects and growth of top-tier expertise have produced her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Section. Her present offer includes bonuses for educational efficiency, wins, and postseason success—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil enhancement.
5. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford University
Approximated Once-a-year Salary: $1.three million
Tara VanDerveer is not only considered one of the best-paid coaches and also the winningest mentor in NCAA women's basketball historical past. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain document and has led Stanford to three nationwide titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and various Last Four appearances.
When VanDerveer hasn't been 1 to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, enhancement of WNBA stars, and commitment to excellence have solidified her location One of the all-time greats in coaching heritage.
A Switching Landscape in Women's Basketball
The escalating salaries of those coaches are reflective on the rising popularity and monetary viability of women’s university basketball. Packages are attracting far more nationwide Television discounts, ticket income are rising, and corporate sponsors have become a lot more invested in Females's sports activities.
The rise in coaching salaries is not just an indication of development—it’s a recognition on the labor, leadership, and success these coaches convey for their systems along with the sport in general.
Honorable Mentions
Whilst these five coaches at the moment direct the best way regarding earnings, numerous Other folks 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 applications and will split into the major five in the approaching yrs as Females's basketball proceeds to increase.
Last Views
The days of underfunded Women of all ages’s packages and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, condition the tradition in their universities, and elevate Ladies’s basketball to new heights. Given that the sport carries on to develop in attractiveness and help, we can easily assume these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on growing.
Women’s college basketball isn’t just keeping tempo—it’s location the tempo for the way forward for aggressive sports.