April 15, 2011

The Executive Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved contract amendments for head football coach Steve Spurrier and head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley when it met Friday morning on the Columbia campus, it was announced today.

“Our football and women’s basketball programs are both moving in the right direction under the leadership of Coach Spurrier and Coach Staley,” said Athletics Director Eric Hyman. “They are both committed to taking their respective programs to the highest level and win championships. We are committed to providing them with the resources they need to be successful here. The future of both programs is exceptionally bright and we want to recognize the jobs that they are doing at the University of South Carolina.”

The terms of the final three years of Coach Spurrier’s contract have been revised, to which he will receive a guaranteed salary of $2,800,000 in 2011, $2,875,000 in 2012 and $2,950,000 in 2013. Coach Spurrier led South Carolina to a 9-5 record in 2010, including a win over top-ranked Alabama and the team’s first win ever at Florida, as the Gamecocks earned a spot in the SEC Championship game for the first time in school history. For his efforts, he was named the SEC Coach of the Year by his peers. He is 44-33 in six seasons as Carolina’s head coach. He has led the Gamecocks to five bowl appearances while all six of his squad’s have been bowl-eligible. Coach Spurrier originally signed a seven-year contract that ran through the 2011 season. It was extended for one year in 2006 and again for one year in 2009.

Coach Staley’s contract was extended for three years through the 2015-2016 campaign. Staley has guided the women’s program to a better record in each of her three years at the helm. South Carolina finished 18-15 in 2010-2011 and advanced to the second round of the Women’s NIT. The total wins for the women’s basketball team has jumped from 10 to 14 to 18 in Staley’s first three seasons. During her three-year stint, SEC wins have increased from two in her first year (2008-2009) to eight wins last season.