South Carolina has accomplished just about everything in coach Dawn Staley’s 17 seasons at South Carolina.

The Gamecocks went to their first Final Four in 2015. They won their first national championship in 2017. Just last year, South Carolina was the 10th team in women’s college basketball to become undefeated national champs.

But with two more wins, the Gamecocks could achieve another first and become just the fourth college program to accomplish back-to-back national titles. The dynasty would only be that much more cemented. And Staley would climb even higher into the annals of the sport.

Granted, the other three coaches in the Final Four are trying to add to their legacy, too. How do Staley’s salary and contract compare with the other three coaches joining her in Tampa this weekend? Here’s a look:

GENO AURIEMMA, UCONN

(40th season, all at UConn // 1,247-165 record)

Salary: $3.34 million (No. 2 highest-paid coach)

Apr 4, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma talks to the media during a practice session at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports Ken Blaze USA TODAY NETWORK

After leading UConn to another Final Four in 2024, his 23rd with the Huskies, the school decided to make him the highest-paid women’s basketball coach once again, giving him a contract that surpassed LSU’s Kim Mulkey’s.

Now in his 24th Final Four, Auriemma is looking to break what has been, by his ridiculous standards, an ages-long national-championship drought. Though he’s cut down the nets 11 times in his career, UConn’s last title came in 2016.

And he’s expected to be around a little longer. His contract runs through the 2029 season.

CORI CLOSE, UCLA

(14th season leading the Bruins // 321-142 record)

Salary: $744,722 (As of 2024 // No. 28 highest-paid coach)

UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close looks on against the LSU Lady Tigers during the first half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena. James Snook James Snook-Imagn Images

Thought she’s by far the lowest-paid coach in this year’s Final Four, that might change after this season.

Following over a decade of early March exits, Close was able to guide this UCLA team to an early-season upset win over South Carolina and then earn the top-overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and UCLA’s first Final Four in program history.

There is little known about Close’s deal, but it would seem that a raise and extension might be in her future — especially if she’s able to guide the Bruins to a national championship.

VIC SCHAEFER, TEXAS

(5th season leading the Longhorns // 144-35 record)

Salary: $2.3 million (No. 4 highest-paid coach)

Texas’ head coach Vic Schaefer yells to his team during the second half of action against the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Tracy Glantz [email protected]

Just a few years after taking Mississippi State to back-to-back national title games — losing to South Carolina (2017) and Notre Dame (2018) — Schaefer has another SEC team in the Final Four.

In his first four seasons at Texas, the Longhorns made three Elite Eights but couldn’t break through. That was until Monday, when they topped in-state rival TCU to earn a spot in Tampa.

The Final Four appearance comes just over a month after Texas gave the 64-year old a three-year extension that keeps him in Austin until 2030, at which time his salary will have increased to $2.6 million.

DAWN STALEY, SOUTH CAROLINA

(17th season in Columbia, 474–109 record)

Salary: $4 million (highest-paid coach)

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley Tracy Glantz [email protected]

Just after the new year — almost nine months after she won her third title — Dawn Staley became the highest-paid coach in women’s basketball.

The deal made her the first WBB coach to eclipse a $4 million salary, garnering a salary that starts at exactly $4 million, jumps to $4.2 million in mid-April and has a $250,000 escalator for remainder of the deal (through the 2030 season).

The deal also keeps similar incentives to her past contract, which means Staley earned $250,000 for guiding the Gamecocks to the Final Four and can earn an addition $250,000 if South Carolina wins it all.

This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 8:55 AM.