It was an expensive Christmas for the University of South Carolina this fall, after closing Will Muschamp before the end of his fifth season as a football coach. According to USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz, gamecocks were about to receive $ 12.9 million to be paid before the new year, according to the Muschamp deal.
“Settlement agreement between South Carolina Univ and the former football coach Will Muschamp shows that he should receive $ 12.9 million on or before December 31, 2020. According to his contract, he should receive $ 15.3 million for the remainder of the contract (until 12/31/2024), ” Berkowitz tweeted on Friday.
Based on the numbers, South Carolina saved more than $ 2 million by paying Muschamp most of its money in a single amount versus monthly installments until the end of its business. Muschamp finished 28-30 overall in South Carolina over 4.5 years. That mark included a 17-22 mark in the SEC game.
Muschamp was one of four SEC coaches fired this season after the program’s trajectory tended south. Muschamp and South Carolina split with four more seasons left on their contract, hence the gigantic purchase.
Muschamp and the school agreed a contract extension in late 2018 to 2024, but after a disappointing 2019 campaign and problems this season, South Carolina decided to move in a new direction.
According to John Whittle of The Big Spur, Muschamp and other applicable parties – athletic director Ray Tanner and secretary of the Board of Trustees J. Cantey Heath – did not sign Board approved amendments to the head coach’s contract last December , who would have removed and saved the university’s $ 3 million escalator clause.
Muschamp did not comment publicly on his departure in South Carolina and was seen this week helping Georgia coach Kirby Smart in Athens. At this time, he was not hired by the Bulldogs in any capacity, reportedly.
Muschamp, 49, has been the head coach of the SEC for nine seasons. Before taking office in South Carolina in 2016, he served in the same capacity in Florida from 2011-14. Muschamp went 28-21 with the Gators, and after spending a year as a defensive coordinator at Auburn, he came to South Carolina after coach Steve Spurrier resigned after 11 seasons.
Before starting his career as a coach, Muschamp served as a defender in Georgia from 1991-94.
South Carolina’s board of trustees this week approved new contracts for several first-year coaches on coach Shane Beamer’s new team. All 10 assistants on Beamer’s team are now at the site near the start of spring training in April.
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Clint Buckley of 247Sports contributed to this story.