Dawn Staley, South Carolina agree to historic contract extension

South Carolina has agreed to a massive and historic contract extension with women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley, according to USA Today’s Lindsay Schnell. The South Carolina Board of Trustees approved a seven-year, $22.4 million contract on Friday, which will pay Staley $2.9 million per season. That puts her right there with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who is the highest paid women’s basketball coach.

Staley is entering her 14th season with the Gamecocks. She was due to earn $2.1 million this season, meaning the new contract will give her a significant $800,000 raise. South Carolina is 331-103 under Staley. Staley has led the Gamecocks to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and South Carolina was ranked No. 1 in the 2019-2020 season that saw the championship canceled due to COVID-19.

South Carolina won the NCAA Championship in the 2016-2017 season under Staley, and the Gamecocks made a run to the Final Four last season. The Gamecocks have made four Final Fours over the last six years that had a tournament.

Staley: ‘I didn’t do this for me’

The new deal is a historic one, and it is very important for Staley for reasons completely unrelated to basketball. Staley is a major advocate for equal pay, and the extension with South Carolina makes her the highest paid Black coach in women’s basketball.

“I didn’t do this for me,” Staley said via Schnell. “I am an advocate of equal pay and overall, this is a huge statement for women and for Black women — and not just in sports but all over the country — when you think about how much less they’re paid on the dollar compared to men.

“Too often when Black people are in these positions [of leadership] we’re afraid to risk it all. But I was unfraid to lose. I was principled in my believe that, I’ve done enough … the money is the thing that pulls people in, it’s the highlighter, but for me, it’s about equity. It’s being able to know your worth, know you’re an asset to something and getting what you deserve. And it’s not a favor, it is earned.”

Staley hopes that she can continue helping women’s sports as she continues coaching at South Carolina.

“We have to keep fighting,” Staley said. “Now is the time for us to raise women’s sports to where they deservedly belong. It’s long overdue, but we’re moving in the right direction — and there’s momentum to sustain it.”

South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner called Staley one of the best coaches in college athletics.

“Dawn Staley is one of the nation’s top coaches, regardless of the sport,” Tanner said. “She has built our women’s basketball program from the ground up, and her teams have produced champions, both on and off the floor. The ability to keep Coach Staley at the University of South Carolina is great news for all Gamecocks. I join with our fans in looking forward to seeing the great achievements her program will continue to produce in the future.”