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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Steve Spurrier has another reason to stick around South Carolina.
The university’s Board of Trustees approved a tax-deferred retirement package Friday for Spurrier’s contract that would pay the head ball coach $1 million if he remained with the Gamecocks the next four seasons.
The money would accrue in installments of $250,000 the next four years and would be given to Spurrier if he’s still at South Carolina by Dec. 31, 2011. Spurrier would forfeit the package if he left the school before then.
Spurrier makes about $1.75 million a year. He was given a one-year contract extension and a raise of about $500,000 after the 2006 season when the Gamecocks finished with three straight victories, including wins over rival Clemson and Houston in the Liberty Bowl.
South Carolina appeared ready to take another step forward this season, opening 6-1 and reaching No. 6 in the country. However, the Gamecocks finished with five straight defeats — the longest such streak of Spurrier’s coaching career.
Still, Spurrier’s name has come up in connection with several coaching vacancies during his time with the Gamecocks.
South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman said the retirement package was a thank you for Spurrier’s work so far.
“He’s an MVP. He’s a champion,” Hyman said. “And this the way for us to show how much we appreciate the job he’s done.”
The annuity was similar to one awarded South Carolina baseball coach Ray Tanner in November. Tanner would receive $240,000 in tax-deferred income should he stay with the program through June 2012.
In other action, trustees approved deals for Spurrier’s two newest coaches.
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson will have a three-year contract that pays him a total of $350,000. Special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski got a two-year contract that pays him $160,000 this coming season and $170,000 the next.
Johnson was hired last week after Spurrier’s first pick to take over the defense, Brian VanGorder, left to return to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, where he’ll coordinate the defense for his friend and new Falcons’ head coach, Mike Smith.
Johnson was called by Spurrier hours after VanGorder’s decision. Johnson had just been hired weeks earlier as defensive coordinator at Arkansas.
Rychleski came over from Maryland, where he coordinated special teams for the previous seven seasons.
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by 02champs on February 1, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hell...if he stays there ONE more season they ought to give him the keys to the city...this is too funny.
Posted by pdhuff on February 2, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For Lord's sake, stay. Don't go anywhere that you don't have to use smoke and mirrors as is done at SC. When he wants to, he can talk the paint off a fence recruiting. Beat MSU.
Posted by Skibum165 on February 2, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They have a $160k dedicated coordinator that is brought in after special teams hurt them last season. Its nice to see that they can make a pro-active decision. Maybe we could learn from this and make our special teams special again!
Just a thought...
Posted by newtonrail on February 2, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Skibum, which position coach do you eliminate? The NCAA mandates 9 Full Time Coaches. I'll guarantee you this coach is coaching TE's probably or some other position.
Posted by AlpharettaVol on February 2, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Their defensive coordinator will make $350,000 over 3 years? That's less than some of our position coaches. Looks like they have a limited athletic budget and most of it is being spent at the top. At least Coach Fulmer seems to take care of his assistants.
Posted by TommyJack on February 2, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
newtonrail: Would you not agree SOMEONE needs to do some work on our special teams. Killed us last year...
Posted by Skibum165 on February 2, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wanted to point out that SC's special teams had a direct impact on the outcome of two games. They didn't like the results and made a change to improve the situation.
UT's coaching staff work special teams by commitie, but do not raise the level of accountability. They toute the virtues of General Neyland's maxums(which special teams is a large part of), but need to pay more than lip service.
Coach Fulmer does pay his assistants well. I would like to see him delegate the responsibilities, and at the same time, give those individuals the tools and authority to get the job done.
Posted by pdhuff on February 2, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TJ, have a glazed. Think positive things like faithful dogs, our DTs in backfields.....
Posted by tngeoff on February 2, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff.
Did we find some?
About Coach Spurrier? He's outlived his premier performing ability and is now in the twilight of if his career with recreational golf beckoning.
5,005!
Posted by NickS4117 on February 2, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We should get a similar package to keep Fulmer at home. I get antsy every time an opening comes up elsewhere.
Posted by Colliervol on February 2, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Resorting to bribery to keep him there. Is it really that bad? I figure if he goes 6 and 6 again next year, that's it. After his stint in the NFL and the bucks he gleaned off that deal, I doubt a million dollars will keep him off the golf course.
Posted by pdhuff on February 2, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tngeoff,12:33 naw, didn't find any. New strategy will be to just score 42 pts per game. Let opponents have 464 yds per game and hold 'em to 34 pts.
Simple, huh! I see a NC coming with this chart.
Might have to leave 90 boxes of fritters in visitors locker room pre-game.
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