When it comes to women’s college basketball coaches, there is no bigger name right now than UConn’s Geno Auriemma. What he has built in Storrs, Conn., has dominated the sport.
Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse at South Carolina as Auriemma has at UConn, while Texas is becoming a yearly contender under Vin Schaefer. Back in the day, Pat Summitt and Tennessee were UConn’s biggest threat each season in the NCAA Tournament.
Auriemma has his 2025-26 team back in the Final Four this weekend in Phoenix. They are the favorites to win back-to-back championships. The veteran coach is showing no signs of slowing down at 72. As his Huskies get ready to take on Staley and South Carolina in the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. EST, one question that a lot of fans have is, How much money does Geno Auriemma make?
How Much Money Does Geno Auriemma Make?
You might be surprised at what Auriemma makes as head coach of UConn. Two years ago, the school announced that Auriemma agreed to a five-year contract extension that pays him $18.7 million in total with the opportunity to earn additional compensation, per a release by the school in June of 2024.
Auriemma earns a yearly base salary of $400,000, and he’s earning additional compensation for speaking, consulting, and media obligations, which started at $2.94 million in 2024-25 and increases by $200,000 each season thereafter, according to a school press release.
Geno Auriemma Bidding for 13th National Championship
During his career, Auriemma compiled a record of 1,288-165, which is stunning. That is a winning percentage of .886. He has won 12 National Championships, and he has been to 25 Final Fours.
The impressive list continues to grow. He has completed six perfect seasons and won nearly 60 conference championships. After this season, he has three years remaining on his contract, and he will be 75 years old when it expires.
UConn Is the Standard for Women’s College Basketball
Before Friday night’s matchup, Staley didn’t beat around the bush about the UConn program and what Auriemma has built there during his four decades as the head coach.
“UConn has been the standard in women’s basketball for a very long time, and everyone has to measure up to their standard. They allow us something to reach for,” Staley said.
“It helps us all grow. It helps us all game plan and try to figure out ways to just measure ourselves up to them and to possibly beat them, and to do that over a period of time, it’s almost impossible, but it’s incredible the standard that they have.”
Auriemma has built a powerhouse, but it’s not going to be easy for anyone to build one the way he has. College sports have become like professional sports free agency with the Transfer Portal and NIL. Gone are the days when a player commits to a program for the name of the program. Now it’s all about how much money you can get.
Auriemma has made the smooth transition into the aspect of college sports. Now he’s two wins away from a 13th National Championship and a seventh undefeated season.
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