COLOMBIA – There has never been a limit on how much Shane Beamer could offer his assistant coaches. They told him to do whatever it took to get the coaches he wanted, and South Carolina, even in a pandemic crisis that will cause the sports department to borrow money from the school, would cover that.
The whole team is not finished yet, but the 10 assistants on the field and the strength coach are. And while it has never been a requirement, it is a sweet relief that the total price is more than $ 2 million less than what the USC paid its football team last year.
It’s a difference of $ 2.305 million from the previous year, most of it from the dismissed $ 4.8 million coach that Will Muschamp was supposed to earn compared to the $ 2.75 million that coach Shane Beamer will earn. Gamecocks saved $ 300,000 each by hiring their coordinators, Marcus Satterfield and Clayton White, and received $ 250,000 from Auburn as a result of hiring Mike Bobo, Will Friend and Tracy Rocker after Beamer already hired them.
“When you hire good coaches and win football games, other schools will want to hire coaches and their team. I know that I will always deal with this to a certain extent, ”said Beamer. “I am very grateful for (athletic director) Ray Tanner and (senior deputy in AD) Chance Miller and our board and president (Bob) Caslen and our administration that allowed me to do things to keep people in this building as well.”
The maximum that a non-coordinating assistant will earn is $ 550,000 (offensive line coach Greg Adkins) with receiver coach Justin Stepp right behind him with $ 460,000. Defense coach Torrian Gray is the only assistant with a raise built into his contract, which moves from $ 350,000 this year to $ 475,000 next year and $ 500,000 in his final year.
Strength coach Luke Day, not one of 10 field coaches, but still a crucial part of the team, will earn $ 400,000, $ 50,000 less than predecessor Paul Jackson.
The former staff dispersed, some finding jobs. Bobo is Auburn’s offensive coordinator, while Rocker is above the Tigers’ defensive line, although weekend reports have Rocker being considered for an NFL show. Eric Wolford is training the Kentucky offensive line, while Jackson landed in Utah State.
Last week’s reports said Muschamp was joining the Georgia team. The school said he doesn’t work there, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Muschamp got some kind of role with the Bulldogs because of his connections. He is a former student of Georgia, coach Kirby Smart is a good friend and Muschamp’s eldest son plays for the Bulldogs.
He also doesn’t need a well-paid show, as the USC made a deal with him for $ 12.9 million on his purchase.
Beamer is still working to fill the rest of his team and is expected to add several former players in the role of analyst or support. Connor Shaw’s new role has not been declared, although he is part of the team. The former Gamecock defender was director of player development, but Beamer hired Derrick Moore as executive director of character and player development last week.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.