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. She overtakes Kim Mulkey of LSU, who earns $3.2 million annually, as the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach.
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 taken out of the equation.
The House vs NCAA settlement could drastically shift how schools distribute funds to their student-athletes, with Title IX mandating 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: January 17th, 2025
- Will be updated again: March 2025
| Rank | Coach | School | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawn Staley | South Carolina | $4 million |
| 2 | Kim Mulkey | LSU | $3.26 million |
| 3 | Geno Auriemma | Connecticut | $3.1 million |
| 4 | Vic Schaefer | Texas | $2.3 million |
| 5 | Brenda Frese | Maryland | $1.88 million |
| 6 | Jeff Walz | Louisville | $1.75 million |
| 7 | Joni Taylor | Texas A&M | $1.5 million |
| 8 | Kenny Brooks | Kentucky | $1.3 million |
| 9 | Teri Moren | Indiana | $1.25 million |
| 10 | Adia Barnes | Arizona | $1.2 million |
| 11 | Shauna Green | Illinois | $1.1 million |
| 12 | Scott Rueck | Oregon State | $1.09 million |
| 13 | Kelly Graves | Oregon | $1.08 million |
| 14 | Jennie Baranczyk | Oklahoma | $1.075 million |
| 15 | Kevin McGuff | Ohio State | $1.04 million |
| 16 | Yolett McPhee-McCuin | Ole Miss | $1.035 million |
| 17 | Wes Moore | North Carolina State | $1.03 million |
| 18 | Robyn Fralick | Michigan State | $1 million |
| 19 | Katie Abrahamson-Henderson | Georgia | $977,000 |
| 20 | Courtney Banghart | North Carolina | $950,000 |
| 21 | Kim Barnes Arico | Michigan | $893,500 |
| 22 | Bill Fennelly | Iowa State | $850,000 |
| 23 | Nell Fortner | Georgia Tech | $816,000 |
| 24 | Dawn Plitzuweit | Minnesota | $800,000 |
| 25 | Cori Close | UCLA | $774,722 |
