Pete Lembo’s commitment to Beamer Ball gets rewarded in a big way
South Carolina special teams coordinator Pete Lembo is in for a pay raise.
The USC board of trustees approved a new deal for Lembo on Tuesday that includes a one-year extension and a $260,000 bump in annual salary to $725,000. His contract will now run through Dec. 31, 2025.
Lembo’s previous deal, which was approved in February, paid him $465,000 annually through December 2024 — a $15,000 pay raise from the initial contract he signed when hired ahead of the 2021 season.
“The impact that Coach Lembo has had on this program, you can look at the national rankings,” South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said following the board meeting. “It was something we wanted to do, and we’re hopeful that he’s the highest paid guy in the SEC at that position. I can’t verify that’s accurate, but that was that was our hope.”
South Carolina boasted one of the nation’s most dynamic special teams units this past fall under Lembo’s guidance. The Gamecocks led the Southeastern Conference and tied for third nationally with six blocked kicks in 2022 — two of which were returned for touchdowns.
South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger was named a first team All-SEC performer and a second team Walter Camp All-American. Kroeger recording the second-best yards per punt average in the country, while 27 of his 52 punts (52%) were downed inside the 20-yard line.
The Lake Forest, Illinois product also completed three passes for 84 yards and one touchdown this year, in addition to handling South Carolina’s holding duties on extra points and field goals.
Kicker Mitch Jeter, albeit in a limited capacity, connected on all 10 of his field-goal attempts and 37 of his 39 extra points this fall in replacing all-time program points scorer Parker White.
Receiver Josh Vann, who handled punt returning duties during the 2021 season, also saw his punt return average jump from 9.14 yards per return last year to over 14 yards per return this season.
Lembo is at the end of his second season on Shane Beamer’s staff. He previously served as the head coach at Ball State, Elon and Lehigh, in addition to assistant coaching stops at Maryland, Memphis and Rice.
South Carolina football coach salaries
*Salaries listed based on contracts obtained by The State
Clayton White (DC) — $1.1 million
Dowell Loggains (OC) — $1 million
Pete Lembo (ST) — $725,000
Greg Adkins (OL) — $550,000
Torrian Gray (DBs) — $500,000
Justin Stepp (WRs) — $475,000
Jimmy Lindsey (DL) — $375,000
Montario Hardesty (RBs) — $350,000
Sterling Lucas (DEs/OLBs) — $350,000
Jody Wright (TEs) — $350,000
This story was originally published December 13, 2022 at 3:02 PM.
