Niele Ivey’s journey to becoming Notre Dame’s first African American head coach is a beautiful story. The coach started out as an All-America guard for the Fighting Irish before becoming the 19th overall pick in the 2001 WNBA draft. Following her success on the court was an outstanding coaching career. Ivey spent 12 seasons as the assistant to Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw, instrumental to Notre Dame’s success that included seven Final Fours and nabbed a national championship in 2018. Then in 2019 she left for NBA, Memphis Grizzlies where she was the assistant coach.

But, following Muffet McGraw’s retirement in 2020, Niele Ivey made a historic return to her alma mater, this time as the first Black women to head any Notre Dame sports team. With an inspiring legacy, it’s only natural there’s curiosity regarding her earnings. How much does Niele Ivey make in 2025?

What is Niele Ivey’s contract with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? How long is the deal?

Though the specific details of Niele Ivey’s current contract have not been disclosed, we do know a bit about the negotiation process. Former Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick called Ivey a “good negotiator,” and that she “didn’t make it easy, she made it fair,” meaning that her current contract is fair and indicative of her value to the program.

As of now, Playerswiki estimates that a women’s basketball head coach earns an average salary of $750,000 per year. And based on Swarbrick’s suggested approximation, we can estimate that Ivey makes somewhere between $750,000-$800,000 annually. For reference, a couple of the highest-paid women’s basketball coaches make a bit more money. Kim Mulkey makes $3.26 million at LSU, as well as Geno Auriemma (UConn) and Dawn Staley (South Carolina) both making $3.1 million.

How much will Niele Ivey earn in the 2024-25 NCAA season?

While the specific terms of Ivey’s current contract are unknown, Ivey’s pay for the 2024-25 season will be in line with other women’s basketball coaches. She is coming off of a second straight impressive season, going 16-2 and finishing tied for first in the ACC. Ivey’s will be paid in a similar fashion, somewhere between $750,000 and $800,000, if not higher. It’s a competitive salary for those in the NCAA women’s basketball scene, but there’s no question that’s there’s still a chance for a potential pay raise in the future for Ivey.

What was Niele Ivey’s previous contract with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?

Ivey was an assistant at Notre Dame for 12 seasons before being named head coach, serving under Muffet McGraw. Those 12 seasons as an assistant under McGraw helped Notre Dame become a powerhouse, with multiple Final Four appearances and a national championship in 2018.

Moreover, Ivey also had a short coaching spell as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. The terms of her contract with the Grizzlies are also not available, but the average annual salary of assistant coaches in the NBA is between $100,000 to $500,000 depending on the level of experience and the team’s financial capabilities.

Ivey’s net worth and salary in 2025

As of 2025, Niele Ivey has an estimated net worth of $3.62 million. Ivey has earned she has earned this sizable fortune through her career spanning the WNBA and coaching ranks both professionally and on the collegiate level. During her WNBA career she did not make nearly as much money as those playing today. That said, playing salaries typically ranged from $20,000 to $70,000 during her time spent with the Indiana Fever, which was typical for those who played in the early 2000’s.

After working as an assistant at Notre Dame and with the Memphis Grizzlies, her financial picture must have bettered quite a bit. Now head coach of the Fighting Irish, she has done well on the court and in negotiations to set up a strong financial base, and her net worth shows off her work.

Niele Ivey’s story is one of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and leadership. She went from fighting for her playing time as a member of Notre Dame’s basketball team to help her team win a championship as an assistant coach. Considering he performance, it only makes sense that Niele Ivey’s net worth has been consistently growing over the years, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon.