Kevin Schnall hired as South Carolina baseball coach. Here are his contract details
Kevin Schnall is officially South Carolina’s new head baseball coach.
The South Carolina Board of Trustees approved Schnall’s contract on Wednesday afternoon — a five-year deal that runs through June 30, 2031, and will pay the former Coastal Carolina skipper an average base salary of $1.3 million.
“Kevin has demonstrated excellence as a leader, coach, recruiter, and developer of student-athletes throughout his career,” USC Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati said in a statement. “We are looking forward to this new era of Gamecock baseball, and we know our fans will be excited by the brand of baseball his teams play — fundamentally sound, relentlessly competitive, and with great energy and enthusiasm.”
After leading Coastal to the College World Series Final in 2025, where the Chants fell to LSU, the school rewarded Schnall with an extension and raise that paid him a base salary of $500,000 and a contract that was loaded with incentives.
Schnall’s South Carolina contract also has plenty of incentives that could drive his compensation even higher. In short: The more USC wins and the further into the postseason the Gamecocks go, the more he’ll get paid.
Schnall’s contract includes a bonus structure that could pay him no more than $280,000 above that $1.3 million base — including a $200,000 bonus if the Gamecocks win the College World Series under his guidance.
A national championship win would also up his annual salary by $150,000. (Schnall would receive a $50,000 toward his annual salary with an NCAA Tournament super regional appearance; $75,000 if USC reaches the College World Series.)
USC will pay up to $600,000 toward his Coastal buyout.
The hiring of Schnall was reported on Tuesday — 81 days after South Carolina and Paul Mainieri parted ways midway through the season and 20 days after the Gamecocks let go of interim coach Monte Lee. The move takes Schnall away from Coastal Carolina, where he spent two years as a player (1998-99), 21 seasons as an assistant (2001-12 // 2016-24) and the past two years as the Chanticleers’ head coach.
“Today is a humbling and exciting day for my family and me,” Schnall said in a statement. “To leave the place that has been home for 25 years, it had to be the perfect opportunity at the perfect time. That is exactly what the University of South Carolina represents.
“... Our connection to the state of South Carolina is unmatched and that will be the foundation of our recruiting efforts. We will work tirelessly to build a roster that reflects the pride and talent that exist throughout this great state. Relationships matter, and we will invest in them every day.”
SEC baseball coaches salaries
Note: The base salary of several coaches on this list changes from year-to-year. The most recent information The State could find for each coach is linked in the list.
- Jay Johnson, LSU: $3.35 million
- Brian O’Connor, Mississippi State: $2.9 million
- Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt: $2.45 million
- Jim Schlossnagle, Texas: $2.2 million
- Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida: $1.84 million
- Mike Bianco, Ole Miss: $1.625 million
- Butch Thompson, Auburn: $1.5 million
- Dave Van Horn, Arkansas: $1.45 million
- Kevin Schnall, South Carolina: $1.3 million
- Wes Johnson, Georgia: $1.3 million
- Nick Mingione, Kentucky: $1.275 million
- Rob Vaughn, Alabama: $1.275 million
- Skip Johnson, Oklahoma: $1.2 million
- Josh Elander, Tennessee: $1 million
- Michael Earley, Texas A&M: $950,000
- Kerrick Jackson, Missouri: $725,000
This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Kevin Schnall hired as South Carolina baseball coach. Here are his contract details."
