South Carolina Gamecocks Give Steve Spurrier Raise, New Incentives

The South Carolina Gamecocks football program knows it has one of the finest college football head coaches in tow.

On Thursday afternoon, the trustees showed their appreciation, approving a pay raise for the South Carolina football staff, via GoGamecocks.com’s Josh Kendall and Andrew Shain:

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University of South Carolina trustees approved pay raises for the Gamecock football staff Thursday that will send head coach Steve Spurrier's salary to $4 million a year.

Spurrier's contract also was extended one year and will end after the 2017 season.

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With the raise, Spurrier now becomes one of the nation’s top 10 highest-paid head coaches. The 68-year-old ranked No. 12 in 2013, earning $3.3 million.

“I’m already embarrassed by how much I make,” Spurrier said, via the report. “I tell some people that and they say, ‘You don’t need to be embarrassed if you look around and see what some of those other coaches are making,’ but I am. I don’t need to make any more.”

However, the raise is certainly well deserved.

In nine seasons with the Gamecocks, Spurrier has run up a 77-39 overall record. That includes three consecutive 11-win seasons with a 33-6 mark during that span.

Spurrier has also led South Carolina to two straight bowl wins—the Outback Bowl in 2013 and Capital One Bowl in 2012.

This past season was easily his best season with the Gamecocks. Spurrier helped the team finish No. 4 in the polls—his highest final ranking since finishing No. 3 with Florida in 2001.

In addition, Spurrier could also become a special adviser for the school once he left coaching.

There's also several incentives added to his contract, per Kendall and Shain's report:

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Spurrier could earn $550,000 for a national title, up from $400,000 this past season.

He also gets:

• $100,000 for a postseason bowl other than the Capital One Bowl or College Football Playoff game (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Chick-fil-A or Fiesta bowl), up from $50,000 this year.

• $200,000 for a trip to the Capital One Bowl or College Football Playoff game (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Chick-fil-A or Fiesta bowl), up from $100,000.

• $250,000 for a trip to a semifinal College Football Playoff game.

• $100,000 for a trip to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

• $200,000 for winning the College Football Playoff national championship.

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Although Spurrier will be 72 when his contract ends in 2017, South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner is hopeful the school’s winningest coach sticks around.

“Age is just a number,” he said, via the report. “I hope he coaches for many, many years.”

But don't count everyone as happy to hear the news:

 Hey, you can't please everybody.

All stats and rankings used in this article are courtesy of CFBstats.com.

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