Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies conquered the NCAA National Championship with a routing victory over Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks. While Auriemma makes over $3.5 millions an year, how much does Staley earns with the Gamecocks?
Geno Auriemma just wrapped up his 40th season at the helm of UConn women’s basketball in storybook fashion—by cutting down the nets at March Madness. The 12-time national champion earned a base salary of $3.34 million during the 2024-25 campaign, with postseason bonuses pushing that figure north of $4 million. On the other side of that championship showdown was Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks, but the head coach likely isn’t losing sleep—especially after pocketing her own impressive season earnings.
The Huskies and Gamecocks have become staple programs in women’s college basketball, with deep runs during the NCAA Tournament becoming yearly traditions for these schools, while others see it as once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Thanks to their remarkable success at their respective programs, both schools had no hesitation in locking in their head coaches to multi-million dollar deals. The contracts were massive, but no one in Storrs or Columbia is second-guessing a thing—Auriemma and Staley have more than earned every penny, and their schools would hand them those deals again in a heartbeat.
In May 2024, Auriemma signed a five-year extension with the Huskies worth $18.7 million, averaging $3.74 million annually, according to USA Today. The contract also includes multiple performance-based bonuses and a $200,000 annual escalator to his base salary. His salary for the upcoming season will be of $3.54 millions.
Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies celebrates with the net after beating the South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 to win the National Championship of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
For instance, during the past season—when UConn captured its 12th national title—Auriemma earned $737,500 in bonuses, raising his total compensation to over $4 million in Storrs. Needless to say, the Huskies happily footed the bill for their record-setting head coach.
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Dawn Staley’s contract
In January 2025, Staley signed the most lucrative contract in women’s college basketball history. Her new deal with South Carolina extended her stay in Columbia through the 2029-30 campaign.
The three-time national championship-winning coach will earn an annual salary of $4 million, which includes a $500,000 signing bonus and a $250,000 annual escalator—bringing the total value to approximately $25.25 million over five seasons, per ESPN.
That number doesn’t take into account any performance-based bonuses which the deal includes. During the Gamecocks’ runner-up finish in March Madness 2025, Staley would have earned a $500,000 bonus if they had beaten Auriemma’s Huskies, according to Essentially Sports.
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates as the confetti falls after beating Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Auriemma, on the other hand, took home a $300,000 championship bonus. Still, $300,000 in hand beats $500,000 on paper—especially when it comes with the untouchable memory of cutting down the nets in such dominant fashion.
Staples of success
Since the 2005-06 season, either UConn or South Carolina has reached the Final Four in every NCAA Tournament, further solidifying their status as the powerhouses to beat in women’s college basketball.
With Auriemma and Staley signed to their schools for the long haul, it doesn’t look like the tide will turn anytime soon. Any team hoping to compete will have to get past the indomitable forces in Storrs and Columbia.
