South Carolina approves baseball, men’s basketball contracts. Here are the details
The South Carolina Board of Trustees approved contracts for the Gamecocks’ newest assistant basketball coach and baseball assistants on Friday.
USC assistant men’s basketball coach Steve Smith received a two-year contract with a $400,000 annual salary. Smith came to the Gamecocks after previous stops at Boston College, Florida State and Clemson.
Smith could earn up to $70,000 in incentives if the Gamecocks make the postseason and reach the Final Four.
Smith is one of four new staff members hired by Lamont Paris this offseason. The others are assistant coaches Bob Donewald and former Wisconsin standout Sam Dekker. South Carolina also hired Charlotte Hornets executive David Duquette as a consultant who will have a big role in the Gamecocks’ front office.
USC announced contract details for threw new assistant coaches and confirmed the hiring of five others under new head coach Kevin Schnall.
New Gamecocks pitching coach Matt Williams and hitting coach Bill Cilento are working with three-year contracts, while outfield coach Chad Oxendine had a two-year deal. Both Cilento and Oxendine will carry the associate head coach title.
Williams’ contract is worth $450,000 annually; Cilento’s deal is worth $425,000 per season. Oxendine’s is worth $300,000 and didn’t require board approval.
All three coaches can earn incentives for making NCAA Tournament appearances ($25,000), or making Super Regional ($50,000), making it to the College World Series ($75,000) and winning the CWS ($100,000).
Williams and Oxendine come to USC after coaching with Schnall at Coastal Carolina. Before Coastal, Williams was Gamecocks pitching coach at South Carolina and also had stops at UNC Wilmington.
Cilento comes to USC after spending more than a decade at Wake Forest. Oxendine was recruiting coordinator for two seasons in his second stint with the Chanticleers.
USC baseball also announced these members of Schnall’s first staff: recruiting coordinator/catching coach Tyler Shewmaker, director of pitching development Dylan Eskew, general manager/director of analytics Matt Pepin, director of baseball operations Mickey Beach, and director of baseball performance Michael Thomson.
Eskew played for the Gamecocks from 2023-25. He made 34 appearances and 24 starts for Carolina, helping USC to a 2023 super regional and 2024 regional appearance.
This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 12:28 PM.
