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Who Is The Highest-Paid Women’s College Basketball Coach?

  • Dawn Staley is the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach in history.
  • Only four women’s college basketball coaches earn at least $2 million annually.
South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley talks to her team in the huddle.
Dawn Staley in the huddle. Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Dawn Staley reset the market for women’s college basketball coach’s pay.

Staley signed a contract extension worth $25.25 million until 2030, paying her $4 million annually. As the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach, she overtakes Kim Mulkey of LSU, who earns $3.2 million annually.

It’s the most lucrative contract in women’s college basketball history.

Few would argue Staley isn’t deserving, having led the Gamecocks to three national championships, six Final Four appearances, and four Naismith National Coach of the Year awards since taking over in 2008.

Staley was already one of only four coaches earning over $2 million annually: with Mulkey ($3.26 million), Geno Auriemma ($3.1 million) – UConn, and Vic Schaefer ($2.3 million) – Texas joining her.

While Staley’s raise is a step in the right direction, women’s coaches are still fighting to earn comparable salaries to their men’s counterparts.

Across Power 5 college sports, coaching salaries for women’s sports aren’t growing at a rate comparable to men’s salaries, according to a study submitted for formal publication led by Wayne State professor and Syracuse scholar-in-residence Scott Hirko.

Between 2014 and 2021, average Power 5 men’s coaching compensation grew at a rate of 55%, while women’s only grew 33%. The study data was collected and published by the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database.

Men’s coaching buyouts also grew at a rate astronomically higher than all of the women’s salaries — 208%, from $574,188 to $1.8 million.

It’s reasonable to assume average women’s salaries will continue to be lower than men’s.

The study notes that Power 5 football — by far the most lucrative college sport — contributed to the dynamic. The launch of the College Football Playoff in 2014, for example, allowed for major inflation of football spending. 

The disparity in growth rate suggests that top programs haven’t provided an equitable investment in women’s sports. In fact, the study found that a growth gap existed even when football was removed from the equation. 

The House vs. NCAA settlement could drastically shift how schools distribute funds to their student-athletes. Title IX mandates equal revenue sharing among men’s and women’s sports.

But it’s yet to be seen if that will stand in light of the presidential election changing the stance of the Department of Education.

Top 25 highest-paid Women’s Basketball Coaches

Most of the annual earnings are based on USA Today data on public universities and from news organizations but take into account coaching changes, compensation data, and the latest information. Private universities, which are not required to disclose salaries, were not included in this list.

  • Updated: March 20th, 2025
  • Will be updated again: May 2025
RankCoachSchoolSalary
1Dawn StaleySouth Carolina$4 million
2Kim MulkeyLSU$3.26 million
3Geno AuriemmaConnecticut$3.1 million
4Vic SchaeferTexas$2.3 million
5Brenda FreseMaryland$1.88 million
6Jeff WalzLouisville$1.75 million
7Joni TaylorTexas A&M$1.5 million
8Kenny BrooksKentucky$1.3 million
9Teri MorenIndiana$1.25 million
10Adia BarnesArizona$1.2 million
11Shauna GreenIllinois$1.1 million
12Scott RueckOregon State$1.09 million
13Kelly GravesOregon$1.08 million
14Jennie BaranczykOklahoma$1.075 million
15Kevin McGuffOhio State$1.04 million
16Yolett McPhee-McCuinOle Miss$1.035 million
17Wes MooreNorth Carolina State$1.03 million
18Robyn FralickMichigan State$1 million
19Katie Abrahamson-HendersonGeorgia$977,000
20Courtney BanghartNorth Carolina$950,000
21Kim Barnes AricoMichigan$893,500
22Bill FennellyIowa State$850,000
23Nell FortnerGeorgia Tech$816,000
24Dawn PlitzuweitMinnesota$800,000
25Cori CloseUCLA$774,722

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