South Carolina 10th nationally in football staff pay in 2015

New South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp knows what it’s like to be a highly-paid assistant. If last year’s figures are any indication, he’ll have the chance to make sure his new staff can call themselves that as well.

USA Today released total numbers for assistant coach salaries Wednesday, and South Carolina’s 2014 group came in at 10th nationally and sixth in the SEC. Muschamp was the highest paid assistant in the country, earning $1.6 million as Auburn defensive coordinator.

South Carolina’s group, which included quality control coach-turned-offensive line coach Travelle Wharton, hauled in a total of $3,995,600.

LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M’s staff took the first five spots, while non-SEC teams Clemson, Florida State, Michigan and Ohio State helped round out the top nine. Each team in the top six had one coordinator making at least $1 million.

South Carolina’s top earners were co-defensive coordinators Lorenzo Ward and Jon Hoke at $752,400. Co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott, who was eventually promoted to interim head coach, and wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. opened the year earning $402,400.

Co-offensive coordinator G.A. Mangus earned $322,400, less than linebackers coach Kirk Botkin and special teams coordinator Joe Robinson.

Hoke and Ward tied for 23rd-highest pay for assistants nationally, while Spurrier Jr. and Elliott tied for 137th.

Nine coordinators took home at least $1 million, six from the SEC and another from Clemson (Brent Venables).

Reports have every Gamecock assistant but Elliott getting replaced as Muschamp takes over after Steve Spurrier resigned midway through the season.