Just 18 of the 69 Power Five women's basketball coaches have "hit the $1 million milestone in annual pay," and coaches acknowledge that number is too low, according to Lindsay Schnell of USA TODAY. Indiana coach Teri Moren said, "That's not enough. You compare it to men’s basketball and it’s not even close. We have to keep closing that gap, especially with women head coaches. We need to get more women in the million-dollar club.” In 2022, 11 women’s coaches were making $1M or more in annual base pay, but considering how much more popular women’s college basketball is now, the 18 number “might seem low.” For years, the revenue generated by women’s basketball, which "pales in comparison" to men’s basketball, has been schools’ “reasoning for paying women’s coaches significantly less, regardless of success.” But according to NCAA President Charlie Baker that needle is “starting to move, particularly with the addition of a unit distribution model” -- where schools are awarded monetarily for playing and advancing in the NCAA Tournament -- which is “expected next year.” The 18 coaches making $1M or more "all work at public institutions." A handful of private school coaches “reportedly make similar money,” including three-time national champion Tara VanDerveer at Stanford (USA TODAY, 3/14).
