USC's million-dollar club: 8 employees earn $1M or more per year

The University of South Carolina now employs at least eight people earning $1 million or more per year — a lineup that includes the president, the athletic director, the head coaches of football, women’s basketball and men’s basketball, and three assistant football coaches.

Here is a breakdown of USC’s million-dollar earners.

The president: $1.3 million base, up to $1.65 million

USC President Michael Amiridis received a $150,000 raise in June under a compensation plan approved by the board of trustees. Amiridis, who has held the post since 2022, will earn a base salary of $1.3 million, with the potential to earn an additional $350,000 per year — bringing his maximum annual value to $1.65 million.

The supplemental compensation vests only if Amiridis remains in the role until 2031, board President Thad Westbrook explained at the meeting.

“We are extremely happy with our president,” Westbrook said. “He is doing a fantastic job. The university is thriving and flying higher than it ever has before.”

Amiridis’ base salary now sits slightly above that of new Clemson University President Kevin Guskiewicz, who earlier this year signed a five-year contract with a $1.216 million base. Guskiewicz can receive $50,000 annual raises tied to performance and earn up to $250,000 in bonuses each year.

Under Amiridis, USC has set fundraising records, drawn record research dollars and reached new enrollment highs while keeping in-state tuition flat.

The football coach: $8.25 million

Head football coach Shane Beamer sits atop the university’s payroll following a contract extension the board approved in January 2025 that runs through 2030. Beamer is earning $8.25 million in 2026, and will receive $100,000 raises annually for the life of his contract.

The deal came after a 9-4 season in 2024, that included six straight wins to close the regular season and a victory at Clemson. Beamer was named SEC Coach of the Year by The Associated Press that year.

Even with the raise, Beamer’s salary lands in the middle of the SEC pack. His prior $6.4 million in 2024 ranked 33rd nationally and 14th in the SEC. As of January 2025, he was tied for ninth in the conference alongside Oklahoma’s Brent Venables.

The women’s basketball coach: $4.5 million

Dawn Staley became the highest-paid women’s basketball coach in the country in January 2025, when the board approved a contract extension paying her $4 million annually. She also received a $500,000 signing bonus.

Staley’s contract, which escalates $250,000 annually, runs through April 15, 2030, for a total value of $25.25 million.

The extension came nine months after Staley led USC to a 38-0 record during the 2023-2024 season, and brought home the program’s third national championship. Her prior salary was $3.2 million.

As of January 2025, Staley’s salary topped UConn’s Geno Auriemma and LSU’s Kim Mulkey, previously the sport’s highest-paid coaches.

The men’s basketball coach: $4.25 million

Men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris earned $4 million this season and is slated to make $4.25 million next year — figures negotiated two years ago by former Athletic Director Ray Tanner during a March Madness run.

Since that NCAA Tournament appearance, results have collapsed. USC finished the 2025-26 regular season 13-19 overall and 4-14 in the SEC, missing the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

Despite the lackluster results, USC opted to retain Paris, Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati confirmed in March.

Cutting ties instead would have carried a significant price tag. If USC had chosen to part with Paris, the university would have owed him a buyout exceeding $12 million — a figure representing 65% of his remaining salary of $18.5 million.

Even at $4 million, Paris’ salary does not crack the top half of SEC coaches.

The athletic director: $2 million

Donati himself joined the million-dollar list when the board approved his six-year contract in December 2024. He earned $1.9 million to start, and will receive $100,000 annual increases through June 30, 2031.

That salary exceeds what Donati made at Texas Christian University ($1.33 million) and what predecessor Ray Tanner was earning ($1.175 million). USC also paid Donati’s $2 million buyout from TCU.

The assistant coaches: three now clear $1 million

Three of Beamer’s football assistants earn seven figures:

• Defensive coordinator Clayton White received a two-year extension paying him $1.9 million in 2025, $2 million in 2026 and $2.1 million in 2027 — a $700,000 raise from his previous $1.1 million salary. The pay increase came after his unit gave up the second-fewest points in SEC play during a resurgent 2024 season.
• Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks coach Kendal Briles signed a three-year contract averaging $2.1 million annually after joining the Gamecocks staff last December from TCU. He’ll make $2 million in 2026. Former OC Mike Shula earned $1.1 million in 2025.
• Co-defensive coordinator/Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray had his salary raised from $850,000 to $1 million this past December when he was promoted to his current role. Gray’s contract runs through Dec. 31, 2027.

This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "USC's million-dollar club: 8 employees earn $1M or more per year."