Best Women’s College Basketball Coaches

In the history of women’s college basketball, there are special coaches who stand out above the rest—coaches who dominated their conferences and became legends at their universities.

Here’s the list of the best women’s college basketball coaches in history. Read the list below and see how these coaches became hall of famers.

Jody Conradt(1976-2007)

• School: Texas
• Record: 900-307
• NCAA Champion(1986)
• 5x SWC COTY

No list of the best women’s college basketball coaches is complete without the great Jody Conrad. Coach Jody was a pioneering figure in women’s college basketball who created a successful basketball program at Texas.

In her thirty-one years as the head coach at UT, Conrad made a lot of history. She became the first coach to lead her team to an undefeated season and win the national title in 1986.

Jody also earned 900 career wins,  seven Final Four appearances, and 20 combined conference regular and tournament titles.

Muffet McGraw(1987-2020)

• School: Notre Dame
• Record: 936-292
• 2 NCAA Titles
• 4x ACC COTY

One of the best women’s college basketball coaches we can’t forget is Notre Dame Legend Ann “Muffet” McGraw. Muffet was known as an offensive genius whose teams consistently competed against the best.

Coach Muffet led the Lady Fightin’ Irish to two national titles and nine appearances in the Final Four. Her teams dominated conference play almost every year with a combined 26 regular and tournament championships.

The 4x ACC COTY finally called it a career in 2020 with an impressive 936 career wins.

C. Vivian Singer(1972 to 2022)

• Schools: Cheyney State, Iowa, Rutgers
• Record: 1055-426
• 4 Final Four Appearances
• 3x Big Ten COTY

Hall of Fame coach Vivian Singer is easily one of the all-time great women’s college basketball coaches. Singer led three schools to Final Four Appearances during her fifty-year coaching career.

She built a top-ranked college basketball team no matter where Coach Singer went. Her longest stint was twenty-seven years with Rutgers, where she became a hall of fame while still coaching.

The coaching legend finally called it a career in 2022 and ended her career with 1055 career wins.

Kim Mulkey(1985 to Present)

• Schools: Baylor, LSU
• Record: 723-118
• 4 NCAA Titles
• 9 Big 12 Titles 

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey is the only person to win national titles as a player, assistant, and coach. Her fiery personality and ability to turn teams into champions have made her a top coach.

Before becoming the coach at LSU, Mulkey won two national titles with Baylor, which included an undefeated season. She added two more national titles to her impressive resume at LSU and continues to add to her legacy.

Tara VanDerveer(1985 to 2024)

• Schools: Stanford
• Record: 1,216-271
• 3 NCAA Titles
• 14 Pac-12 Regular Season Titles

Easily one of the best women’s college basketball coaches ever is the legendary Tara VanDerveer. For thirty-nine years, VanDerveer’s Stanford basketball team was a powerhouse.

Under Coach Tara’s leadership, the Lady Cardinals won three NCAA titles, thirteen Final Four appearances, and fourteen Pac-12 regular season titles. Before retiring, VanDerveer held the record for most career wins in women’s college basketball with 1,216.

Nobody deserved a spot in the Naismith Hall of Fame more than Coach VanDerveer.

Pat Summit

• School: Tennessee
• Record: 1,098-208
• 8 NCAA Titles
• 32 Combined SEC Titles(Regular Season &Tournament)

Right up on the Mount Rushmore of the best women’s college basketball coaches, is the great Pat Summit. Coach Summit was an icon in college basketball, revered by all her peers.

From 1974-2012, Summit created one of the all-time greatest women’s college basketball programs. During Pat’s illustrious coaching career, she led her Lady Vols to eight national titles and thirty-two combined SEC titles(Regular Season & Tournament).

Before being forced to retire, Pat Summit was the all-time leader in wins with 1,098. If Alzheimer’s had not cut her life short, Coach Summit would still be doing what she loved.

Geno Auriemma(1985 to Present)

• School: UConn
• Record: 1,216-162
• 11 NCAA Titles
• 111-Game Winning Streak

Without question, Geno Auriemma is the greatest among the best women’s college basketball coaches. Auriemma has constructed the most dominant college basketball program in history for over five decades.

When you read the accomplishments of Coach Geno, it doesn’t even seem real. His UConn program has shattered countless NCAA records.

• 11 NCAA Titles
• 22 Final Four Appearances
• 8 Naismith COTY
• 25+ Conference Titles
• 111-game winning streak(2014-2017)
• Most Wins(1,216 & Counting)

Geno Auriemma is unarguably the greatest women’s college basketball coach in history. However, what’s scary is that Geno Auriemma isn’t calling it quits anytime soon.

At 70 years old, Auriemma is returning for his fortieth season and will add-on to his impressive records.