Spurrier, Horn receive contract extensions

It was a good day for South Carolina coaches on Monday, with the University Board of Trustees meeting and approving changes to the contracts of head football coach Steve Spurrier and men’s basketball coach Darrin Horn.

Horn has received a raise to an annual salary of $1.1 million, as well as a two year extension through the 2015 season. His raise will be for $300,000 per year. Spurrier has received an extra year on his contract to extend it through 2013.

Both coaches have reached high levels of success over the past year, and were rewarded by Athletic Director Eric Hyman and the board. In his first season at South Carolina, Horn led the Gamecocks to 21 wins and a berth in the NIT. Spurrier has seen his success rise to a new level in his fifth season at the helm. This year’s football squad finished the regular season 7-5, but with a dominating 34-17 win over Clemson.

Hyman said that Horn’s success on the court in just one season, as well as the competitive SEC marketplace, drove the administration to the decision of giving him a raise.

“In recognition of the job that’s been done, the excitement that’s been created with the basketball program, with his accomplishments on the basketball court along in addition to academically,” said Hyman.

With the marketplace becoming more and more competitive for high quality coaching in the SEC, Hyman and the administration felt that Horn had definitely earned some contract enhancements.

“You look at what he accomplished last year, not only on the court, but in the classroom, and you look at our marketplace in the Southeastern Conference, I think his accomplishments, (and) Dr. Pastides felt the same way, merited the adjustment we made in his contract,” stated Hyman.

While his current salary stayed the same, the Head Ball Coach also received an extension Monday. Hyman said that even with swiftly escalating salaries in the SEC, Spurrier was only concerned with extending his contract in order to gain the confidence of recruits.

“The key issue was an extra year, that’s what we talked about,” said Hyman. “There was a sense of urgency for that. The rest of our discussions will take place there in the future.”