Dawn Plitzuweit Secures Two-Year Contract Extension as Minnesota Women's Basketball Coach

Minnesota's women's basketball program has solidified its future by extending head coach Dawn Plitzuweit's contract for an additional two years, a decision ratified by the university's board of regents on Thursday.

In her two seasons at the helm, Plitzuweit has led the Gophers to a 47-29 record, including a challenging 13-23 in Big Ten competition. Notably, the team faced significant hurdles, including the absence of leading scorer Mara Braun for much of the season due to foot injuries. Despite these challenges, the Gophers concluded Plitzuweit's second year triumphantly by clinching the WBIT championship, although they have not participated in the NCAA Tournament since 2018.

The newly negotiated contract spans six years, extending through 2031, and includes a salary increase of approximately 7%, elevating her base pay to $900,000 for the 2025-26 season. This deal also stipulates annual raises of $30,000. Within the competitive landscape of the Big Ten, which saw 12 teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament this year, Plitzuweit's compensation places her in the middle tier among her peers.

Plitzuweit joined Minnesota after a brief tenure at West Virginia, where she spent just one season. She took over the program from Lindsay Whalen and now stands as the 13th head coach in its history.