In the high-octane, buzzer-beating realm of NCAA women’s basketball, coaches are not merely strategists—but legends in the making. These men and women have engineered some of the greatest moments the game has ever witnessed. But who occupies the throne when it comes to championship success? Let’s jump into the greatness of the most accomplished NCAA women’s basketball coaches by national titles.
The Most Successful NCAA Women’s Basketball Coaches
1. Geno Auriemma, 12 Championships (UConn)
When you’re discussing dominance in women’s college basketball, Geno Auriemma is where you begin. Since he became head coach at UConn in 1985, he’s established the Huskies as a dynasty.
Auriemma’s 12 national titles (1995, 2000, 2002–2004, 2009–2010, 2013–2016, 2024) are the most in NCAA women’s hoops history. Well, he is matched with legend John Wooden for most titles in college hoops—men’s or women’s.
His UConn squads have had six undefeated campaigns. He has produced an astonishing list of WNBA stars, such as Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird. Auriemma has also taken his teams to 22 Final Fours. He has a mind-boggling NCAA Tournament record of 136–23.
When questioned regarding how he continued to succeed, Auriemma was once quoted as saying:
“It’s not about chasing championships. It’s about being great every day.”
2. Pat Summitt, 8 Championships (Tennessee)
Before Auriemma’s UConn dynasty, there was Pat Summitt’s Tennessee dynasty. Between 1974 and her retirement in 2012, Summitt constructed the Lady Vols into a juggernaut. Throughout that time, she captured eight NCAA titles (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996–1998, and 2007–2008).
Summitt retired with 1,098 career victories, then the record for any NCAA Division I coach. She guided legends Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker, among others. The coach also mentored her players off the court. Summitt made sure that every player who played out their eligibility under her also graduated.
Her passing in 2016 after a battle with Alzheimer’s was a loss felt throughout the sports world, but her legacy remains immortal. As she once said:
“Here’s how I’m going to beat you: I’m going to outwork you.” And she did.
3. Kim Mulkey, 4 Championships (Baylor, LSU)
The fiery and stylish Kim Mulkey has shown she can win big—and win anywhere. Mulkey won her first three championships at Baylor (2005, 2012, 2019). That’s where she made the Bears consistent contenders.
In a gutsy move to LSU in 2021, she won her fourth championship in 2023. Mulkey guided the Tigers to a 102–85 victory over Iowa in a wild, high-scoring game.
Famous for her flashy sideline attire and even flashier game strategies. Mulkey is the sole individual in the history of college basketball—men’s or women’s—to have won national championships as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
She boasts a career-winning percentage of over 850. Mulkey remained one of the most outspoken and ardent personalities in the game.
“I returned home to win championships,” Mulkey explained upon arriving at LSU—and boy, did she ever deliver quickly.
T-4. Tara VanDerveer, 3 Championships (Stanford)
Tara VanDerveer is the most victorious coach in the history of NCAA women’s basketball in terms of wins. However, don’t be fooled by the 1,200+ victories into overlooking her three national titles (1990, 1992, 2021). She’s been the pulse of Stanford basketball since 1985. She forged a legacy characterized by consistency, discipline, and a passion for the game.
Her 2021 title was especially noteworthy because it was 29 years since her previous championship. And in a COVID-affected season, when her team recorded an unbeaten road record. VanDerveer also led Team USA to Olympic gold in 1996.
In her own words, “Basketball is a beautiful game. It’s about the team, about unselfishness, and about effort.”
That philosophy has kept Stanford on the national radar for four decades.
T-4. Dawn Staley, 3 Championships (South Carolina)
If there’s an emerging icon at the helm, it’s Dawn Staley. From star player to top coach, Staley has transformed South Carolina from an SEC also-ran to a national powerhouse. With three national titles (2017, 2022, and 2024) and an undefeated 38–0 season in 2024, Staley’s team is now the gold standard of the new era.
She’s a trailblazer in and out of the gym—the first Black coach to win multiple NCAA women’s basketball championships and the second to win three. Staley’s recruiting is on an elite level, and her leadership is unparalleled. Her Gamecocks have appeared in four Final Fours since 2021.
KEEP READING: Women’s Basketball Programs With the Most National Championship Wins
“I don’t just coach basketball—I coach life,” she once declared.
That life-first, player-centric mentality is constructing something truly remarkable in Columbia.
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
