South Carolina basketball Head Coach Lamont Paris makes $2.2 Million to be the basketball coach for the Gamecocks. While that is a lot, it is over $6 Million less than Kentucky’s John Calipari’s contract, and Coach Cal’s contract is guaranteed “for life.” Before being dismissed, former Gamecock basketball coach Frank Martin made almost $3.5 Million annually.
While Paris is in his first year in Columbia, and Martin intensely roamed the coach’s box at CLA for a decade, there was a coach who came before them both who was less-than-beloved by the fanbase. For those who might have blocked that era of South Carolina basketball from their memories, former Western Kentucky Coach Darrin Horn was hired as the head man for the garnet and black and was on the sideline from the 2008-2009 season until the 2011-2012 season.
Horn had a good year in ’08-’09 with a roster loaded with talent after the retirement of Dave Odom. The Gamecocks won over 20 games but were snubbed from the NCAA Tournament and had a disappointing showing in the NIT. From that year on, despite Horn recruiting at a high level, the Gamecocks’ record worsened the next three years until the program set a new record for losses with 21 in the 2011-2012 season. For his mismanagement of the program, Horn was paid over $1 Million per season and was given a $3+ Million buyout settlement after being fired.
After a stint working in the media, Horn returned to the midmajor ranks as the head coach of the Northern Kentucky Norse and saw more success. NKU has had a winning season in all four Horn-led years, including three 20+ win seasons and a near-upset of #1-seed Houston in this year’s NCAA Tournament. On Thursday, Horn was rewarded for his good work. NKU will now pay Horn over $500,000 a season, a number never before earned by a coach in the Horizon League.
When South Carolina basketball fans thought of the possibility of Darrin Horn breaking records and getting big contracts, it is doubtful that any of them thought it would be like this.