Women’s higher education basketball has noticed exponential expansion in viewership, talent, and competitiveness in the last ten years. With the elevated level of popularity and commercial results on the sport, especially in NCAA Division I packages, coaching salaries have risen to reflect the value and leadership these leading-tier coaches carry to their groups and universities. As universities go on to speculate inside their Girls’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the economic rewards that include constructing powerhouse plans.

Right here’s a think about the 5 greatest-compensated Gals’s higher education basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not just their extraordinary salaries but will 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 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 countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).

In 2021, she manufactured headlines by signing a historic seven-yr, $22.four million deal, producing her the best-paid Black head coach in Gals's school basketball heritage. That offer has given that been restructured and prolonged with efficiency incentives, positioning her firmly at the top of this checklist.

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

A residing legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies to the jaw-dropping 11 national titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has remodeled This system into One of the more dominant dynasties in school basketball historical past—Adult males's or women’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and steady effectiveness have ensured lucrative contract renewals. His present-day agreement features a base income, media obligations, apparel promotions, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Event operates. Though UConn has confronted the latest challenges with injuries and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership maintain his worth higher.

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

Immediately after A prosperous two-10 years run at Baylor, in which she won a few countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey shocked the basketball planet by joining LSU in 2021. In only her 2nd period With all the Tigers, she led them to some 2023 national championship, bringing a new amount of excitement and spotlight to Baton Rouge.

Her high-profile arrival arrived using a rewarding eight-12 months, $23.6 million deal, building her one among the highest-compensated Girls’s coaches ever. Noted for her passionate coaching design and style, flamboyant vogue, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.

4. Brenda Frese – University of Maryland
Estimated Yearly Salary: $1.four million

Brenda Frese has quietly designed a product of consistency at Maryland because taking on in 2002. With several conference championships, a nationwide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Event appearances, Frese has held the Terrapins in countrywide competition for more than two decades.

Her very long-phrase effects and advancement of top rated-tier talent have designed her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic Office. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial efficiency, wins, and postseason achievements—illustrating her dual dedication to athletics and university student advancement.

five. Tara VanDerveer – Stanford College
Believed Annual Wage: $1.3 million

Tara VanDerveer is don't just among the very best-compensated coaches but also the winningest coach in NCAA Girls'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 diverse Remaining 4 appearances.

While VanDerveer has never been one particular to chase flashy contracts, Stanford has ensured that her legacy and contributions are properly compensated. Her Management, progress of WNBA stars, and determination to excellence have solidified her place among the all-time greats in coaching background.

A Shifting Landscape in Gals's Basketball
The expanding salaries of such coaches are reflective of your escalating recognition and monetary M88 viability of women’s school basketball. Applications are attracting much more national TV deals, ticket sales are increasing, and company sponsors have gotten far more invested in Females's sports activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not merely a sign of progress—it’s a recognition of the exertions, leadership, and good results these coaches deliver for their packages along with 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)

Each of those coaches has produced significant strides with their respective systems and could split in to the top rated five in the approaching many years as women's basketball proceeds to mature.

Final Feelings
The days of underfunded Girls’s applications and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches don't just command significant salaries—Additionally they mentor generations of athletes, shape the culture of their universities, and elevate Females’s basketball to new heights. As being the Activity proceeds to grow in acceptance and aid, we can easily be expecting these salaries—and also the profiles of those leaders—to carry on rising.

Females’s college or university basketball isn’t just retaining speed—it’s location the rate for the future of competitive sports activities.