Minnesota's women's basketball program has secured a long‑term vision with the signing of head coach Dawn Plitzuweit to a contract that runs through the 2031‑32 season.
A Deal That Puts Plitzuweit in Elite Company
The agreement guarantees an annual base salary of $1.1 million, up from $900,000 a year ago, and includes a $30,000 escalator each season that will push the paycheck to $1.25 million by the final year.
Plitzuweit's contract also features a sliding‑scale buyout clause, ranging from a full 100 % of the remaining balance to as low as 50 % depending on when a separation occurs, providing the university with flexibility should circumstances change.
Under her leadership, the Gophers captured 13 Big Ten victories and earned a berth in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, marking the program’s most successful stretch in recent memory.
How Plitzuweit's Paystack Compares
She joins a small but growing cadre of women's college basketball coaches whose compensation now rivals that of many men's counterparts. South Carolina's Dawn Staley remains the highest‑paid at $4.25 million, followed by UConn's Geno Auriemma at $3.79 million, LSU's Kim Mulkey at $3.35 million, Texas' Vic Schaefer at $2.3 million and Maryland's Brenda Frese surpassing $2 million.
The escalating salary structure reflects a broader shift in how institutions value women's sports, as athletic departments increasingly allocate resources to retain top talent and sustain competitive programs.
The contract's language also underscores a strategic move by the University of Minnesota to lock in a coach whose résumé includes successful tenures at Northern Kentucky University, the University of South Dakota and West Virginia University, each of which saw marked improvements under her guidance.
With the new deal, Minnesota signals its intent to invest in a sustainable future for its women's basketball program, aiming to build on the momentum generated by a historic Sweet 16 run and to attract further talent both on the court and in the front office.