Finley’s first stop in collegiate basketball was at Harvard, where she spent three years as an assistant coach. “I am committed to our student-athletes and will continue to do all I can to help them become the best they can be on and off the court. I’m grateful to be entrusted with this role and will bring my best every day to help us be successful together as a team,” she once said, words that perfectly capture her coaching philosophy.

Today, Kelly Rae Finley is best known for her remarkable tenure with the Florida Gators. Set to enter her fifth season as head coach in 2026, she’s earned every bit of recognition coming her way. Guiding the Gators to their first postseason semifinal appearance since 2013 is no small feat. But with such success on the court, has Kelly been compensated in line with her accomplishments?

What Is Kelly Rae Finley’s Net Worth?

One of the most talked-about topics in collegiate sports is Kelly Rae Finley’s net worth. The interest is understandable, given her reputation as one of the highest-paid coaches in the game. While several reports estimate her net worth at around $5 million, neither Finley nor her team has confirmed those figures.

Finley has often spoken about what drives her beyond numbers and recognition. “The University of Florida is an elite athletic and academic institution where we have the opportunity to compete for and win championships. That’s everything you want when you look for a program to build and be a part of.”

Kelly Rae Finley’s Contract Breakdown

While Florida isn’t the first job for Kelly, there’s no information available about her previous contracts. However, in Florida, she’s making $740,000 with her five-year deal. She’s got a base salary of $450,000 according to her contract that runs from February 27, 2022, until April 15, 2027, but that’s not all.

Kelly’ll be receiving a $71,000 talent incentive payment, a $4,000 academic incentive, a $40,000 personal travel allowance, and a $50,000 expense account that began January 1, 2023. Apart from this, she will be receiving a $25,000 equipment supplement from UF’s endorsement contract with Nike and $100,000 as a longevity incentive, provided she’s still employed as UF’s head coach. That accounts for a close to $4 million contract, which is the ninth-highest paid to a head coach in SEC women’s basketball.

What Is Kelly Rae Finley’s Salary?

While Kelly’s previous salary is unknown, with the Gators, she’s earning a base salary of $450,000. Here’s her salary breakdown, as per USA Today Women’s Basketball Head Coach Salaries is as follows: 

Kelly Rae Finley’s Career Earnings

Well, Finley’s success at Florida hasn’t just earned her national recognition, but it’s also reflected in her paycheck. According to USA Today’s 2023-24 salary database, Finley was listed with a school pay of around $700,000. She has a five-year deal with Florida that she inked in February 2022, worth $3.7 million, running through April 15, 2027. However, there’s no information available about her salary earned from other coaching jobs.

Kelly Rae Finley’s College and Professional Career

Before Kelly Rae Finley became one of the most respected coaches in women’s college basketball, she was a player. A Colorado State University graduate in 2008, Finley earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies while lettering for the Rams. However, her collegiate playing career began at Northwestern University during 2004-05. It was there she gained her first exposure to the intensity and discipline of Big Ten basketball. But as soon as she graduated, her career took a turn. She joined as an assistant coach and kicked off her coaching career.

At Harvard, she helped the program make three consecutive postseason appearances while playing a key role in signing the Ivy League’s first-ever women’s McDonald’s All-American. Slowly, her reputation started growing, paving the path for her next coaching stint at the University of Colorado. Once again, she elevated the standards – signing a top-25 national class that helped the team climb as high as No. 11 in the AP Poll and No. 14 in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll during the 2013-2014 season.

After Colorado, she joined Arizona as an assistant coach and, after serving there, arrived in Gainesville in 2017. Initially, she was hired as an assistant coach, but in 2019, she was promoted to associate head coach and took over as interim head coach in 2021. Eventually, she was named the head coach in February 2022. Since then, she’s transformed Florida into a postseason mainstay. From earning honors like Spalding Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year to developing WNBA talents like Kiki Smith and Leilani Correa, Finley’s coaching is something that keeps her at the helm for a fifth season.