Females’s higher education basketball has found exponential growth in viewership, talent, and competitiveness over the past decade. While using the elevated reputation and industrial good results on the sport, especially in NCAA Division I applications, 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 inside their Females’s athletics departments, several standout coaches are reaping the monetary rewards that include creating powerhouse applications.

Here’s a think about the five highest-compensated Girls’s university basketball coaches as of 2025, showcasing not only their impressive salaries and also the achievements that justify their elite compensation.

one. Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Believed Yearly Salary: $three.1 million

Dawn Staley proceeds to get the gold regular in Women of all ages’s higher education basketball coaching. A former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist, Staley has designed South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. Since taking up the program in 2008, she has led the Gamecocks to a number of NCAA Final 4 appearances and two countrywide championships (2017 and 2022).

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

2. Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
Approximated Once-a-year Income: $two.9 million

A living legend, Geno Auriemma has guided the UConn Huskies into a jaw-dropping eleven countrywide titles. His tenure at UConn, which began in 1985, has transformed the program into Among the most dominant dynasties in college basketball background—Adult men's or Women of all ages’s.

Auriemma’s longevity and constant functionality have ensured profitable contract renewals. His existing agreement includes a base wage, media obligations, attire discounts, and significant bonuses tied to NCAA Match runs. Even though UConn has faced modern troubles with accidents and roster turnover, Auriemma’s legacy and leadership hold his price significant.

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

After A prosperous two-ten years operate at Baylor, the place she gained three countrywide titles, Kim Mulkey stunned the basketball earth by becoming a member of LSU in 2021. In just her second time While using the Tigers, she led them to the 2023 nationwide championship, bringing a whole new degree of excitement and Highlight to Baton Rouge.

Her significant-profile arrival came using a profitable eight-12 months, $23.6 million contract, earning her considered one of the very best-paid Women of all ages’s coaches at any time. Known for her passionate coaching style, flamboyant fashion, and championship pedigree, Mulkey is central to LSU’s resurgence in Girls's hoops.

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

Brenda Frese has quietly created a model of regularity at Maryland considering that taking over in 2002. With various convention championships, a countrywide title in 2006, and dozens of NCAA Match appearances, Frese has saved the Terrapins in nationwide contention for over twenty years.

Her prolonged-term impression and M88 advancement of top-tier talent have made her indispensable to Maryland’s athletic department. Her recent offer contains bonuses for tutorial functionality, wins, and postseason achievement—illustrating her dual determination to athletics and pupil progress.

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

Tara VanDerveer is not simply one of the very best-paid out coaches but will also the winningest coach in NCAA Females's basketball history. She surpassed Pat Summitt’s all-time gain report and it has led Stanford to a few national titles (1990, 1992, and 2021) and numerous Ultimate 4 appearances.

Though VanDerveer has never been a single 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 historical past.

A Transforming Landscape in Women of all ages's Basketball
The increasing salaries of these coaches are reflective from the developing acceptance and money viability of ladies’s faculty basketball. Courses are attracting extra countrywide Television set promotions, ticket gross sales are expanding, and company sponsors are getting to be extra invested in Women of all ages's sporting activities.

The increase in coaching salaries is not only a sign of development—it’s a recognition with the exertions, leadership, and success these coaches bring for their packages along with the sport in general.

Honorable Mentions
Whilst these five coaches currently guide the best way with regards to earnings, quite a few others are going up:

Kelly Graves (Oregon)

Vic Schaefer (Texas)

Jeff Walz (Louisville)

Courtney Banghart (North Carolina)

Every single of these coaches has built important strides with their respective applications and will break into the top rated five in the approaching decades as Gals's basketball continues to mature.

Ultimate Thoughts
The days of underfunded women’s systems and underpaid coaches are steadily fading. These elite coaches not just command superior salaries—In addition they mentor generations of athletes, form the society of their universities, and elevate Gals’s basketball to new heights. Because the Activity proceeds to develop in attractiveness and assist, we could count on these salaries—as well as profiles of these leaders—to continue soaring.

Ladies’s faculty basketball isn’t just maintaining speed—it’s placing the rate for the future of competitive sports activities.