South-Carolina

Dawn Staley contract: Everything South Carolina coach said about record salary, impact on team

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2025

Dawn Staley contract: Everything South Carolina coach said about record salary, impact on team

COLUMBIA — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is the highest-paid coach in the history of women’s college basketball as of Friday with a new contract that takes effect immediately and will run through 2029-30.

Staley, who won her third national championship at South Carolina in 2024, will receive an annual salary of $4 million with a $250,000 increase every season and a $500,000 signing bonus that makes the total value approximately $25.25 million.

“I’ve never been driven by money at all, never, ever,” Staley said on Friday afternoon. “Money is the byproduct of your success and your ability to work hard and be successful in your space. I do think it represents what can be in other professions that women for whatever reason are not paid for doing the same type of work, for the same type of job and I think this is an example of what it can look like, feel like, sound like and I hope everybody is happy about it for what it represents.”

Before the new contract, LSU coach Kim Mulkey was the highest-paid coach at $3,264,000.

Staley’s salary was the third-highest among women’s college basketball coaches, according to the USA TODAY Sports database from March 2024 but both she and UConn coach Geno Auriemma were making $3.1 million in terms of total pay.

“I think what it represents is, we play to a certain standard and I do think when we are able to get a raise like this, it’s to your standard,” Staley said. “I don’t think anyone expects us to play lower than our standard and we haven’t. Rewarded is a hard work for me because it’s earned. When you’ve done what you’re suppose to do and well above what you’re suppose to do you should be paid accordingly.”

Although she said she doesn’t usually share this kind of information with her players unless they ask, she did talk about what a contract like this may mean to them down the line.

“There’s going to be a time in their lives where they’re going to feel like they’re doing a job and they are getting paid less,” Staley said. “How to handle those instances. It’s a fight no matter what, it’s a fight … it’s a fight to explain to people what your worth is. You have to do some comparisons with coaches here, and coaches in other spaces and it’s the way it is, it’s negotiations. Our negotiations as women are a little bit different because we are valued a little bit different but I think when it’s all said and done, it’s the same things you apply to this game … negotiations are a game … you go back and forth.”

Staley said former athletic director Ray Tanner, who had been working as AD until a little over a month ago, played a huge role making her new contract happen and that current athletic director Jeremiah Donati came in towards the end.

“It took a while for it to happen, a long time and fortunately we got to this great place that makes me look good but it makes our University and athletic department look great in the grand scheme of things,” Staley said. “Ray Tanner did a great job, ran a hard bargain.”

On the men’s side, Kansas coach Bill Self was the highest-paid coach as of March 2024 with a total pay of $9,625,624. In March, South Carolina men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris was given a six-year deal that pays him $26.25 million over the life of the contract, or an average of $4.375 million per year.

“The board of trustees did something that is extraordinary because it really just doesn’t happen but I’m glad it’s South Carolina, our University and our board, that no matter what, we look good,” Staley said. “I’m glad I am the person to be able to handle it because I truly don’t care about the money, I do care about the principle of it. Don’t care about the money but it’s the right thing to do though.”

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

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Mid-amateur from South Carolina wins Terra Cotta Invitational in Florida

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Mid-amateur from South Carolina wins Terra Cotta Invitational in Florida

All that separated Connor Doyal from the biggest win of his amateur golfing career was 5 feet of perfectly manicured green on Hole No. 18 at Naples National Golf Club. That plus a super-sized case of the yips.

“My hands were shaking uncontrollably,” said the 26-year-old mid-amateur from Charleston, South Carolina. “But I’ve had some moments like this before, and I think I’ve just learned to let it happen and not fight it. I knew it wasn’t going to be the best stroke of my life, but in the moment, I just had to trust myself to make the putt.”

Just as he had for much of the third and final round of the 30th annual Terra Cotta Invitational, Doyal delivered, dropping in the putt to win the event by one stroke over 17-year-old junior golfer Dawson Lew of Toronto, Canada.

Connor Doyal, a 26-year-old mid-amateur golfer from Charleston, S.C., celebrates with the trophy after winning the 30th annual Terra Cotta Invitational on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Doyal, who entered the day two shots behind co-leaders Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach and University of Florida senior Parker Bell, shot 5-under 67 to finish 12-under, two shots off the low-scoring record for the 54-hole tournament.

“Honestly, I just hit the ball fantastic start to finish,” Doyal said. “I hit a ton of greens and then the putter started heating up. I woke up feeling good this morning, and I knew I had it in me.

“Coming down the stretch, I had to battle. I’m just glad it’s over. I mean, the heart rate is still extremely high right now.”

Doyal had seven birdies in his final round, the best of which came on the par-4 No. 14. He used his six-iron to blast his second shot 220 yards to within inches of the cup, setting up a short putt that gave him a one-shot lead over Bell.

Doyal followed with a birdie on No. 15 to up his lead to two strokes, but made things interesting by shorting a putt on No. 17 for bogey.

Playing in a group just ahead of Doyel, Lew missed a 35-foot try for birdie on the par-5 No. 18 a smidge left to finish at 11-under after a final round 68.

Clinging to that one-shot lead on No. 18, an admittedly amped-up Doyal nearly overshot the green on his third shot from about 80 yards out, the ball settling on the back fringe. He followed with a deft chip, setting up his tournament-winning putt.

“It was a little bit nervy there, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Doyal said. “I’m always going to be able to look back at that up and down on 18 and be like I have what it takes when the pressure is on.”

Widely regarded as one of the best amateur events for junior golfers in the country, the Terra Cotta’s field included nearly the entirety of the top 25 in the Rolex American Junior Golf rankings. That included Luke Colton of Frisco, Texas, who was gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive Terra Cotta championship. The 18-year-old Vanderbilt commit came up short in his quest, finishing 3-under and in a tie for 21st place.

“I started off pretty bad, just kind of had a weird first day,” said Colton, who opened with a 2-over 74. “Nothing was going my way. But I was pretty happy with the way I ended it.”

Colton said the Terra Cotta is one of his favorite events of the season.

“You’ve got a great field and obviously an amazing course,” he said. “I think that’s why everybody wants to come and play at this tournament.”

Another top junior was a late and unreported entry to the Terra Cotta. Charlie Woods, son of golfing great Tiger Woods, got off to a rough start with an opening round 79, but shot a 3-under 69 in the final round to finish in a tie for 42nd place with a 3-over 219.

Among the five Naples-area competitors, former Gulf Coast High School standout and current University of Florida golfer Noah Kent had the best showing. The 20-year-old finished with a 2-over 218 for the tournament, placing him in a tie for 34th. The other local entrants were Spencer Ives (220), Brian Bassett (222), Jack Ryan Donovan (224), and Kaden Latrielle (229).

Contact Sports Reporter Dan DeLuca at ddeluca@usatodayco.com. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Connor Doyal wins Florida amateur event, Charlie Woods ties for 42nd

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Missouri beats South Carolina in game two

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Missouri beats South Carolina in game two

Columbia, Mo. — The South Carolina softball team (25-21, 4-13) dropped the second game of its series at Missouri (24-23, 7-10) 5-0 Saturday night (Apr. 18).

Kai Byars led the Gamecocks with a pair of doubles on the night. It was her second multi-hit game of the season and her first game with multiple extra base hits.

The Tigers scored a run in the third inning without the aid of a hit. They would extend the lead and add four more in the fourth.

Carolina’s best opportunity for a run came in third. Byars doubled to lead off the inning and Shae Anderson followed with a bunt single. A double play on a potential sacrifice fly ended the rally.

Emma Friedel (8-4) took the loss, allowing one run on no hits in 3 1-3 innings. She struck out six and walked three.

The rubber game of the series will be tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.

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South-Carolina

Former Texas guard Jordan Lee transfers to SEC rival South Carolina

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Former Texas guard Jordan Lee transfers to SEC rival South Carolina

Jordan Lee entered the transfer portal after a breakout season at Texas and the junior guard isn’t going too far. She’s staying in the Southeastern Conference.

Lee announced on Instagram Friday that she’s transferring to South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley after spending the first two years of her collegiate career at Texas under Vic Schaefer. Lee captioned her Instagram post, which featured a video montage of her visit to Columbia, South Carolina, “Feeling cocky.”

Lee was one of four players from Texas to enter the transfer portal after the Longhorns’ second consecutive trip to the Final Four ended in a devastating loss to UCLA. She was named to the All-Region team in the Fort Worth 3 bracket in this year’s NCAA Tournament following her Sweet 16 and Elite Eight performance, where she recorded 22 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals while also providing strong defense.

After being limited to five starts her freshman year, Lee slid into the starting lineup last season and started a career-high 38 games. She also averaged career highs in points (13.2), assists (2.5), rebounds (2.5), steals (1.5), field-goal percentage (42%) and free-throw percentage (75%), while shooting 34% from 3-point range.

Texas’ Aaliyah Crump, Justice Carlton and Aaliyah Moore also entered the transfer portal. On Friday, Crump announced she’s transferring to Duke, citing her connection with head coach Kara Lawson.

“For me, choosing Duke University goes far beyond one sentence. The moment I connected with Kara Lawson and her coaching staff, I knew I was exactly where I belonged,” said Crump, who averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game her freshman season at Texas.

Crump continued: “Their dedication and vision for the program is truly special, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of it. The connection Coach Lawson and I have built is one of a kind, and I fully trust in her plan for the success of this program. I can’t wait to be coached by genuine people who support my growth not only as a basketball player, but as a person as well.”

Three-time All-American Madison Booker and junior starting forward Breya Cunningham are expected to return to Texas.

Contributing: Mitchell Northam

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

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