Dawn Staley will be continuing her tenure at South Carolina, accompanied by a well-deserved salary increase.
The head coach of the Gamecocks has signed a lucrative contract extension that will ensure her continued presence in South Carolina through the 2029-2030 season.
“I’m proud to represent the University of South Carolina and of its investment in women’s basketball,” Staley said. “What we’ve been able to accomplish on the court is a testament to what can happen when you bring together the right people from a team perspective but also have the right commitment from the university, the athletics department and the community to providing that team with everything it needs to be successful.”
The contract, approved by the university’s board of trustees, commences with an annual salary of $4 million, includes a signing bonus of $500,000, and incorporates an annual escalation of $250,000, resulting in a total value of approximately $25.25 million.
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“Dawn Staley is a once-in-a-generation coach who has made a tremendous impact on the University of South Carolina,” athletic director Jeremiah Donati said. “She has elevated the sport of women’s basketball on the national level and here on campus, and I am excited that she will be representing our University for many years to come.”
According to the Charleston Post and Courier, if Staley decides to terminate the contract prior to its conclusion, she would be required to repay the school the total remaining balance of the contract, with one exception: this obligation would be waived if she accepts a head coaching or assistant coaching position in the WNBA or NBA.
Staley’s agreement surpasses the contract of LSU head coach Kim Mulkey, who signed a 10-year, $32 million contract in September 2023 to remain with the Tigers.
Since assuming leadership of the program in 2008, Staley has guided the Gamecocks to achieve eight SEC tournament titles, eight SEC regular-season titles, and six Final Four appearances, including four consecutive appearances over the last four years. She has been honored as the Naismith Coach of the Year four times and has received the SEC Coach of the Year award seven times, earning both accolades for three consecutive seasons.
Staley has successfully guided South Carolina to three NCAA Championships including last season’s 38-0 title team. (2017, 2022, 2024), placing the institution third for the most NCAA titles in history. Only the University of Connecticut (11) and the University of Tennessee (8) have achieved more championships.
Since the 2013-14 season, the Gamecocks have achieved a record of 165 wins and 15 losses in SEC regular-season play. During this period, they have either won or tied for the league’s regular-season title on eight occasions, and have also secured eight SEC tournament titles.
Staley’s salary for the current season was $3.2 million prior to the implementation of her contract extension. UConn’s Geno Auriemma, who has secured 11 NCAA championships with the Huskies, is earning $3.34 million this season. Meanwhile, LSU’s Kim Mulkey, who achieved three NCAA titles during her tenure at Baylor and guided LSU to its inaugural championship in 2023, is receiving a salary of $3.25 million this season.
Currently, Staley’s Gamecocks are ranked No. 2 and have an impressive record of 17-1, with their sole loss occurring against No. 1 UCLA. The team is entering a challenging phase in their schedule, as they are set to compete against five consecutive ranked SEC opponents. The Gamecocks successfully navigated the initial two challenges, securing victories against then-No. 5 Texas on Sunday and No. 19 Alabama on Thursday. Looking ahead, South Carolina will face Mulkey’s No. 5 Tigers next Thursday, which promises to be an exciting matchup.
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