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Women's college basketball has seen a rapid rise in popularity since the emergence of players like Iowa Hawkeyes legend Caitlin Clark and LSU Lady Tigers rebounding queen Angel Reese. South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso, UConn all-around guard Paige Bueckers and USC scoring machine JuJu Watkins have also made an impact.
However, these ladies wouldn't be in their lofty perches if not for their coaches who motivate them to rise against adversity and surpass all boundaries.
These coaches are paid millions of dollars by schools that traditionally contend for the women's NCAA Tournament and make the succeeding rounds to the national final.
Here are the top-10 highest-paid women's college basketball coaches for the 2024-25 season (per Front Office Sports).
Top 10 highest-paid women's college basketball coaches for the 2024-25 season
#10. Adia Barnes, Arizona - $1.2 million
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Adia Barnes has handled the Wildcats since the 2016-17 season and has a 150-100 record in eight seasons. Barnes guided Arizona to four NCAA tournaments, including a runner-up finish in the 2020-21 season.
This season, the 47-year-old coach will try to lead the Wildcats in the Big 12 Conference following the dissolution of the Pac-12.
#9. Teri Moren, Indiana - $1.3 million
With over 220 wins in 10 seasons as a coach for the Indiana Hoosiers, Teri Moren has gone a long way and achieved a lot.
The 55-year-old, who had previous stints with Division II school Indianapolis and MVC team Indiana State, has guided the Hoosiers to the Elite Eight in 2020-21 and six NCAA Tournaments overall.
#8. Kenny Brooks, Kentucky - $1.3 million
Kenny Brooks has moved to eighth place in the highest-paid rankings after signing a deal with Kentucky. The 55-year-old Waynesboro, Virginia, native has coached for 22 seasons with James Madison and Virginia Tech and had an excellent coaching record of 517-204.
His biggest achievement was in the 2022-23 season when he led the Hokies to the Final Four.
#7. Joni Taylor, Texas A&M - $1.5 million
Joni Taylor was signed by Texas A&M in 2022 after leading Georgia to a 140-75 record and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Taylor, 45, guided the Aggies to the first round of last season's NCAA Tournament and a 19-13 finish. It will be her third season with Texas A&M.
#6. Jeff Walz, Louisville - $1.75 million
Jeff Walz has been the coach of Louisville since 2007. He guided the Cardinals to a 464-135 record.
Walz led Louisville to two runner-up finishes, in 2008-09 and 2012-13 seasons, and Final Four appearances in 2017-18 and 2021-22. Aside from this, the 53-year-old bench tactician reached the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen four times each.
#5. Brenda Frese, Maryland - $1.88 million
After three seasons with Ball State and Minnesota, Brenda Frese was hired by Maryland in 2002. Four seasons later, she led the Terrapins to the national championship.
Following the national title, Frese had two Final Four, five Elite Eight and four Sweet Sixteen appearances. Overall. Frese is 639-191 with a .770 winning percentage.
#4. Vic Schaefer, Texas - $2.3 million
Vic Schaefer was a coach for Sam Houston State (1990-97) and Mississippi State (2012-2020) before he was signed by Texas in 2020.
In his 19 seasons as Division I coach, Schaefer had a 410-204 record. The 63-year-old mentor bench tactician has two runner-up finishes, four Elite Eight and one Sweet Sixteen appearances.
#2. (tie) Dawn Staley, South Carolina - $3.1 million
Dawn Staley coached for eight seasons with Temple, where she guided the Owls to two second-round and four first-round finishes in the NCAA Tournament. Staley was hired as South Carolina coach in 2008 and held on until now.
During her time with the Gamecocks, Staley won three national championships, including a perfect 38-0 record last season. The 54-year-old coach guided South Carolina to three Final Fours, one Elite Eight and four Sweet Sixteen appearances. She has compiled a record of 612-186 (440-106 in South Carolina).
#2. (tie) Geno Auriemma, UConn - $3.1 million
Geno Auriemma has coached for 38 seasons with UConn and won 11 national championships. The 70-year-old coach has compiled a record of 1,213-162, where he reached the Elite Eight five times, Final Four 11 times and had one runner-up finish.
Auriemma signed a five-year, $18.7-million contract extension in July. The deal would earn him $3.34 million next year, making him the highest-paid coach in the 2025-26 season. He'll earn $4.14 million by the time the deal expires in 2028-29.
#1. Kim Mulkey, LSU, $3.26 million
Kim Mulkey has called the shots for Baylor and LSU for 24 seasons, winning four national titles, in 2004-05, 2011-12, 2018-19 and 2022-23. She has finished in the Final Four once, Elite Eight seven times and Sweet Sixteen on five occasions.
Mulkey, who has a record of 723-118, signed a 10-year, $36-million extension, following the Lady Tigers championship run. In the first year of the extension, she was paid a salary of $3.15 million, plus $114,000 classified as other pay, for a total of $3.264 million.
Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey - who is NCAAW's highest-paid coach? Find out here
