SOUTH CAROLINA FANS REJOICE AS: Dawn Staley, Head Coach of University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball Team Has Made History By Signing The Largest Contract For a Coach in Women’s College Basketball Following…
South Carolina Gamecocks fans are celebrating a historic milestone as Head Coach Dawn Staley has signed a groundbreaking contract extension, making her the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball history. The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved the extension, which runs through the 2029–30 season and is valued at approximately $25.25 million. The contract includes a starting annual salary of $4 million, a $500,000 signing bonus, and annual increases of $250,000 .
Staley’s leadership has transformed the Gamecocks into a national powerhouse. Since taking the helm in 2008, she has guided South Carolina to three NCAA national championships (2017, 2022, and 2024) and six Final Four appearances in the last nine tournaments, including each of the last four . The 2023–24 season was particularly remarkable, as the team achieved a perfect 38–0 record, becoming just the tenth team in women’s college basketball history to complete an undefeated season .
Under Staley’s tenure, the Gamecocks have dominated the Southeastern Conference (SEC), securing eight regular-season titles since 2013–14 and winning four consecutive SEC Tournament championships from 2015 to 2018. Her teams have also maintained a 52-game SEC regular-season win streak, the longest in league history .
Staley’s impact extends beyond the court. She has been instrumental in boosting fan engagement, with the Gamecocks leading the NCAA in average attendance for the last ten seasons. This year, the program sold out of season tickets for the first time in its history, with 13,152 tickets sold .
A former WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player, Staley has also made significant contributions to USA Basketball as a coach, leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her accolades include multiple National Coach of the Year honors and an induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 .
Staley’s contract extension not only reflects her remarkable achievements but also sets a new standard for investment in women’s sports.
