Geno Auriemma surpasses Kim Mulkey as highest-paid women’s college basketball coach

College Basketball

By Christian Arnold

Geno Auriemma will be running the UConn women’s basketball program for years to come. 

The legendary women’s basketball coach signed a five-year, $18.7 million contract extension on Tuesday to remain at UConn on a deal that will run through 2029. 

The deal also includes the chance to earn more money through performance-based incentives. 

The deal will make Auriemma the highest-paid women’s basketball coach per season, moving him past LSU coach Kim Mulkey, according to multiple reports. 

“I’d like to thank David Benedict, Radenka Maric and the University of Connecticut leadership for their trust in me and their commitment to the women’s basketball program,” Auriemma said in a statement Tuesday night. “I still find it hard to believe that I’ve been at UConn for over half my life. I feel like there’s so much more that can be done, and will be done, and I’m excited to be the one to do it with my staff and my team.

“I’m probably as excited about these next few years as I’ve ever been over the last 40.”

Auriemma’s base salary will be $400,000 a year and he will get an additional $2.94 million for the 2024-25 season as compensation for speaking, consulting and media obligations. 

That $2.94 million will increase by $200,000 every year during the length of the deal. 

“Geno has been such a mainstay at UConn that it’s impossible to overstate his lasting positive influence on our student-athletes, the women’s basketball program and Connecticut as a whole,” President Radenka Maric said. “His leadership and nearly 40 years of commitment to our university have brought immeasurable value and name recognition to both UConn and the entire state.”

Auriemma has amassed 1,213 victories during his time at UConn and owns the best winning percentage (.882) in the sport. 

The 70-year-old, who has won 11 national titles, helped lead the Huskies to the Final Four this past season. 

The 2024-25 campaign will be his 40th, and UConn is expected to compete for another national championship with Paige Bueckers in the fold.