South Carolina Football Ops Building on Schedule

COLUMBIA - South Carolina's new football operations building remains on schedule to be completed in December.

"We are on time and on budget," athletics director Ray Tanner said Friday during a meeting of the USC Board of Trustees. "Coach (Will) Muschamp and I have not had a lengthy conversation, but my hopes are that he'll be very busy, and be playing, and we won't move in until probably the first of '19."

The $50 million facility is mostly enclosed as construction has continued throughout spring practice. The plan has always been for the building to be raised throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons with a target date of December 2018 for completion.

Muschamp has praised the building as a "game-changer" several times.

Tanner also spoke about basketball player Brian Bowen, who has declared for the NBA Draft without hiring an agent. Bowen declared for the draft because the NCAA has not yet ruled him eligible to compete at USC. Bowen's hope is that an NCAA decision before May 30 will help him decide if he wants to play in college next year or play professionally.

There's nothing USC can do to get a quick decision from the NCAA.

"No, there really isn't," Tanner said. "We're on their timeline, so hopefully we'll have the information that will work."

The Board also approved several amendments to current contracts. Women's basketball associate head coach Lisa Boyer had her contract extended one year and her salary increased to $300,000, a raise of $40,000. Men's basketball assistant coaches Perry Clark ($265,000) and Chuck Martin ($300,000) had their contracts extended one year with no salary increase.

The contracts for assistant football coaches Travaris Robinson, Bryan McClendon, Lance Thompson, Eric Wolford and Dan Werner were amended. None of the five would have to pay the buyouts in their current contracts if they leave USC for a head coaching position in college or pro ball.

Head women's basketball coach Dawn Staley had an amendment to her contract approved. The Board approved a $300,000 split-dollar insurance plan for Staley. She is entitled to the cumulative benefits of the plan as long as she stays at USC through the 2021-22 season - she would receive $1.5 million in one lump payment after that season.

Staley had her contract extended through the 2024-25 season after winning the 2017 national championship. Currently the highest-paid coach in the SEC and one of the top-earning coaches in the country, Staley is set to make $1.5 million in 2018-19, a $50,000 increase from last year.

Staley also earned $180,000 in bonuses during the last season, and could add to that if she hits certain academic parameters this year.

All football coaches had their contracts amended and extended in January. Robinson has a three-year deal with McClendon, Thompson, Wolford and Werner on two-year deals. The rest of the staff have one-year contracts.

A motion was also passed to name USC's defensive backs meeting room at Williams-Brice Stadium after former Gamecock great Andre Goodman.

The Gamecocks' $50 million football operations building is scheduled to be completed in December. USC Athletics
USC athletics/Provided

April 21, 2018