Breaking down all the details from Dawn Staley’s new contract with South Carolina

Women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley is now in a seven-year, $22.4 million deal with the University of South Carolina that averages over $3 million annually through the 2027-28 season.

The contract is in effect now and continues through April 15, 2028.

That $22.4 million total comes from a combination of base salary from the university and what the school counts as “outside compensation.” She’ll make $2.9 million this year in the first year of the deal, her 14th season at South Carolina. Staley’s original USC contract from 2008 paid her $650,000 ($250,000 from a base salary) in the first year.

Here’s the breakdown of everything Staley will make — and can make with bonuses — plus her updated contract buyout details.

Staley base salary

Staley’s base salary increases from $600,000 annually to $1 million.

Outside compensation

This part of her total salary comes from TV and radio shows and commercial endorsements as well as shoes, equipment and coaching apparel.

In her prior contract, that compensation was at $1.15 million this year and increased to $1.45 million in the final year of the deal.

In the new deal, the compensation starts at $1.9 million this first contract year and grows $100,000 each year, reaching $2.5 million in the final year.

Dawn Staley full salary breakdown

• Year 1: $2.9 million (Oct. 1, 2021 to April 15, 2022)

• Year 2: $3 million (April 16, 2022 to April 15, 2023)

• Year 3: $3.1 million (April 16, 2023 to April 15, 2024)

• Year 4: $3.2 million (April 16, 2024 to April 15, 2025)

• Year 5: $3.3 million (April 16, 2025 to April 15, 2026)

• Year 6: $3.4 million (April 16, 2026 to April 15, 2027)

• Year 7: $3.5 million (April 16, 2027 to April 15, 2028)

Dawn Staley bonus breakdowns

Staley can earn up to $680,000 each year in additional money through performance bonuses.

▪ She’ll make an additional $15,000 if the team wins 11 or more SEC regular-season games in the 16-game conference format.

▪ She’ll make (whichever is greatest) $75,000 if USC wins the SEC regular season championship; $50,000 if USC wins the SEC tournament; or $100,000 if USC wins both championships.

▪ For the NCAA tournament (whichever is greatest) she’ll make $25,000 if USC makes the NCAA tournament; $50,000 if USC makes the Sweet 16; $100,000 if USC makes the Elite 8; $250,000 if USC makes the Final 4; $500,000 if USC wins the national championship. (A national title in her prior deal brought a $400,000 bonus.)

▪ She’ll make an additional $25,000 if she is name the SEC Coach of the Year by the AP or SEC coaches, or both; and $25,000 if she is named the National Coach of the Year by the AP, or Naismith, or both.

▪ Staley earns $15,000 if USC finishes in the Top 25 in the final AP or Coaches poll

Other perks

Staley also receives these as part of the new contract:

▪ The use of two vehicles.

▪ A club membership, defined as the “use of membership privileges at a mutually agreed upon golf/country club. Coach shall be responsible for payment of all personal expenses and costs associated with the use of such membership, such as food and beverage charges.”

▪ The use of an executive suite (16 seats) in the Colonial Life Arena, and 14 additional tickets for each regular-season home women’s basketball game.

▪ Four football tickets and two sideline passes (non-transferrable) for each home football game.

▪ Four tickets to each regular-season home men’s basketball game.

▪ The use of USC facilities for three weeks each summer for summer basketball camps.

▪ A family travel perk that allows up to two family members/personal guests to travel with the women’s basketball team on charter airlines/buses to away games. That includes team meals and hotel accommodations.

Dawn Staley buyout details

South Carolina would owe Staley no money if it were to ever fire her “with cause,” meaning USC is parting ways because a serious violation or impropriety has occurred. Payments to Staley would end on the date of termination.

However, if Staley is fired by the school “without cause,” the school owes her this much:

• Year 1 (before April 15, 2022): $3 million

• Year 2 (before April 15, 2023): $2.5 million

• Year 3 (before April 15, 2024): $2 million

• Year 4 (before April 15, 2025): $1.5 million

• Year 5 (before April 15, 2026): $1 million

• Year 6 (before April 15, 2027): $500,000

• Year 7 (before April 15, 2028): $250,000

If Staley leaves on her own, she owes the school this much:

• Year 1 (before April 15, 2022): $5 million

• Year 2 (before April 15, 2023): $4.5 million

• Year 3 (before April 15, 2024): $4 million

• Year 4 (before April 15, 2025): $3.5 million

• Year 5 (before April 15, 2026): $3 million

• Year 6 (before April 15, 2027): $2.5 million

• Year 7 (before April 15, 2028): $2 million

Note: In the prior agreement, if Staley left on her own, the money she owed maxed out at $3 million and dropped to $500,000 in the final year of the deal.

Other buyout notes

The agreement automatically terminates in the event Staley dies. There’s also a disability termination clause that says “employment agreement terminates upon disability in the event of coach’s substantial physical or mental incapacity lasting in excess of 45 consecutive days which cannot reasonably be accommodated by the university and which interferes with coach’s ability to perform essential functions of her duties and responsibilities.”