More details revealed on Susan Walvius’ contract, role with South Carolina WBB
Dawn Staley added a familiar face to the South Carolina women’s basketball program in November.
Former Gamecocks head coach Susan Walvius was hired to Staley’s staff with the title of senior director of women’s basketball external affairs. Walvius was South Carolina’s head coach from 1997-2008 and compiled a 165-60 record before Staley took over in 2009.
Walvius left coaching after her time with the Gamecocks ended. In 2008, she co-founded SHEEX — which is described as a “performance fabric bedding and sleepwear line” — alongside former USC assistant and current Arizona women’s basketball general manager Michelle Marciniak.
“Susan is a successful businesswoman who created a corporation from the ground up that’s still thriving in this space, in this climate,” Staley told reporters at the Players Era Championship in November. “We like that. In this climate, you have to be business-minded. You have to think a little bit outside the box and be innovative and create positions that will help in the NIL space, that will help our players who are coming into a lot of money, that they need some direction. I think Susan was the best person for the job.”
Other details of Walvius’ role with the Gamecocks were revealed in her employment agreement, which was obtained by The State through an open records request.
Susan Walvius contract details
Walvius signed her contract Oct. 21, 2025, and it was approved by the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees on Oct. 31. Walvius’ first day on the job coincided with the Gamecocks’ season opener on Nov. 3.
Walvius’ contract is for one year with a base salary of $200,000.
A one-year deal is relatively status quo for the USC women’s basketball program. Each of Staley’s assistant coaches and support staff members are on one-year contracts, and most of the deals expire on March 31, 2026, per documents previously obtained by The State.
Walvius’ contract, which can easily be extended, will expire on June 30, 2026, just like head strength coach Molly Binetti and head athletic trainer Craig Oates.
Although Walvius is listed as the senior director of women’s basketball external affairs on South Carolina’s website, she has a different title on her contract. Walvius’ contract describes her as the “NIL Operations Coordinator for Women’s Basketball.”
This name, image and likeness-centered role makes sense given the information included in her bio online.
“Her CEO experience and proven marketing ability are assets as she develops a comprehensive strategy to maximize NIL opportunities, establishes an equitable revenue-sharing model and analyzes NIL trends to identify new pathways,” Walvius’ bio says. “Her basketball background establishes easy connection to student-athletes as she works with them on building their personal brands and conducts workshops on topics such as financial literacy, contract negotiation and brand management.”
How it compares
Times have certainly changed since Walvius was last in the college basketball world, and her salary is evidence of just that.
In May 2002, Walvius received a large raise and extension following what was the best season in South Carolina women’s basketball history at the time. The Gamecocks, who had four straight losing seasons in the years prior, were a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the Elite Eight. The 25 wins South Carolina totaled was a program best at that time.
Walvius was given a five-year extension with a $150,000 base salary after the March Madness run. That base salary was up 43% from her previous contract, per Sports Business Journal. In all, the contract Walvius received in 2002 was worth more than $1 million after hefty incentives, supplemental compensation and bonuses.
Now, Walvius’ base salary makes her one Staley’s highest-paid support staffers.
Director of operations Ariana Moore is the highest-paid support staffer with her annual contract that’s valued at $205,875, according to records previously obtained by The State.
All but one of Staley’s assistant coaches make more than $200,000 a year (long-time associate head coach Lisa Boyer makes over half a million dollars). Khadijah Sessions is the lone assistant not making six-digits. Her latest contract was valued at $85,125.
