Torrian Gray promoted, first contract OK’d for newest South Carolina assistant
South Carolina’s football assistant coaching staff has its newest member of the $1 million salary club.
Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, on staff all five seasons with head coach Shane Beamer, was promoted Friday to include the titles of assistant football coach and co-defensive coordinator.
Gray’s previous annual salary of $850,000 was bumped to $1 million. He’s the third USC assistant now making seven figures. His contract has two years remaining and runs through Dec. 31, 2027.
In addition to his raise and promotion Friday, Gray’s contract was amended to include an inflated buyout clause that covers the short term: If he leaves USC between now and June 30, 2026, he would owe the school $2 million — or about four times the dollar amount of the comparable time frame from his previous contract amendment. That high figure is likely meant as a deterrent to any other college program that might come after Gray, and it protects USC’s own investment in the long-tenured Beamer assistant.
Gray’s buyout drops to $500,000 if he leaves after July 1; and it drops again, to $300,000, if he leaves on or after Jan. 1, 2027.
Contracts for other Gamecocks football coaches
New assistant Deion Barnes also landed his first deal with the Gamecocks on Friday. Barnes will coach the edge rushers and defensive ends for USC.
Barnes signed a two-year contract in which he will make $675,000 in 2026 and $775,000 in 2027. USC will pay his $25,428 Penn State buyout.
Barnes replaces Sterling Lucas, who left a week ago for a job at LSU. Lucas was making $775,000 annually at South Carolina.
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees’ governance committee approved the new contracts Friday.
SOUTH CAROLINA 2026 COACHING STAFF SALARIES
- Shane Beamer, Head Coach — $8.2 million
- Clayton White, Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach — $2 million
- Kendal Briles, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach — $2 million
- Torrian Gray, Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach — $1 million
- Joe DeCamillis, Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator — $850,000
- Stan Drayton, Assistant Head Coach – Offense/Running Backs Coach — $775,000
- Shawn Elliott, Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach — $775,000
- Randy Clements, Offensive Line Coach — $725,000
- Deion Barnes, Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach — $675,000
- Mike Furrey, Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach — $650,000
- Travian Robertson, Defensive Line Coach — $550,000
This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM.
