USC’s highest salaried administrators and sports coaches will take a 10% pay cut

The University of South Carolina will be cutting the salary of top administrators and sports coaches to brace for a difficult year ahead.

President Robert Caslen, members of his cabinet and the three highest paid coaches will all take a 10% pay cut for the 2020-2021 school year, the university announced Tuesday.

“The global health crisis will continue to have a significant impact on the university, and I applaud our university officials and coaches for their willingness to personally contribute to our institution’s financial health,” Caslen said.

The cuts will apply to Caslen’s cabinet and women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, football coach Will Muschamp, and men’s basketball coach Frank Martin, according to a USC statement.

These salary cuts will save the university $1.2 million in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, according to the release.

“These shared voluntary sacrifices will help address the anticipated financial shortfalls at Carolina,” said Gamecocks Athletic Director Ray Tanner.

Muschamp was set to earn $4.4 million for this year. Men’s basketball coach Frank Martin was on the books for $3.1 million, while women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley was set to earn $1.7 million.

Tanner is paid $1 million a year overall. Caslen’s salary is $650,000.

The school only pays a portion of a coach’s salary, with the rest being covered by outside entities related to media obligations and apparel deals. A school spokesperson said the pay cuts include the outside compensation.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Muschamp said in an interview with a Tennessee radio station. “It’s the best thing for our institution. It’s the best thing for our state.”

Between now and June 30, USC could lose as much as $40 million, according to a previous article from The State. However, once the new fiscal year starts July 1, the impacts on USC’s budget are expected to far exceed this year’s effects.

Thus far, USC has sought to cut costs by implementing partial hiring freezes, freezing most travel and foregoing most pay raises, according to a previous article from The State.

According to an email sent previously to faculty by the Faculty Senate Chair, the effects on USC’s budget next year could be twice as serious as Great Recession in 2008, which could result in USC cutting programs and furloughing employees.

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 2:47 PM.