USC Provides Raises For Coaches

The Board of Trustees approved compensation increases to the contracts of Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier and Head Baseball Coach Ray Tanner. Tanner also received a one-year extension on his contract, taking him through the 2016 campaign. The Board also approved two-year contracts for football assistant coaches Kirk Botkin, Grady Brown, Shawn Elliott, Brad Lawing, Joe Robinson, Everette Sands, Steve Spurrier Jr., and Lorenzo Ward. All are signed through the 2013 season. In addition, the Board extended men’s soccer coach Mark Berson through the 2015 season and approved softball coach Beverly Smith’s contract, which also runs through the 2015 season.

"A key element of having a nationally-prominent program that competes for championships is having a top-notch coaching staff, and I think we have that in place at South Carolina," said Athletics Director Eric Hyman. "We are fully aware of what is taking place in the marketplace and have made some contract adjustments accordingly. Specifically with football, we are extremely pleased that our program has been very competitive and are supportive of Coach Spurrier’s request to give his assistants multi-year contracts," added Hyman.

"We certainly appreciate our University Trustees, President and Athletics Director for their commitment to our coaching staff that keeps us very competitive in SEC coaching salaries," said Coach Spurrier. "We have an excellent group of coaches here that can really coach, recruit and represent the University of South Carolina in a first class manner."

"I am extremely grateful to Dr. Pastides, Eric Hyman and the Board of Trustees for the many years of support to my family and to our baseball program," said Coach Tanner. "I'm honored to work at a great university with the best fans in college athletics."

"I want to thank Eric Hyman, President Pastides, and the Board of Trustees for this contract extension," said Coach Berson. "Our goal is to continue to win championships and to build a men’s soccer program that represents the University of South Carolina with distinction both on the field and in the classroom. This is an exciting time to be a part of Carolina Athletics and the University community."

"The future of Carolina Softball is bright," said Coach Smith. "With all of the support from the administration, I believe we will have both the personnel and facilities to return the program to national prominence. My first season in Columbia was memorable. I’m looking forward to many more."