South Carolina extends contracts

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- University of South Carolina trustees showed Friday that having one of the country's best football defenses and a strong baseball program can be rewarding.

The group's executive committee approved a one-year contract extension to football defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who leads the Southeastern Conference's No. 1 defense. The agreement will keep Johnson with the Gamecocks through 2011.

Trustees also gave a one-year extension and $25,000 raise to longtime baseball coach Ray Tanner, who led the Gamecocks to three straight College World Series trips from 2002-04. The amended contract will keep Tanner, who was hired in 1997, with the program through the 2013 season and increases his annual salary package to $370,000.

Johnson didn't get a bump on his $350,000-a-year contract he signed last winter, but trustee Michael Mungo urged the board to send Johnson a personal letter for doing ``a hell of a job.''

Athletic director Eric Hyman said football coach Steve Spurrier came to him recently, ecstatic about Johnson's performance. Both thought it was appropriate to offer an extra year.

``Our whole theme in the athletic department is you recognize excellence,'' Hyman said Friday. ``The defense has performed on a level of excellence and that's why we wanted to reward him.''

Spurrier said the agreement will send a strong statement to recruits ``that coach Ellis Johnson is going to be here and that I'm going to be here for several more years.''

When Spurrier arrived four years ago, South Carolina leaders and fans envisioned a point-a-minute offense that blew out opponents the way Spurrier's teams did for 12 successful seasons at Florida. But it has been Johnson's defense that has shone brightest this season.

The unit led all Football Bowl Subdivision teams a few weeks back and is currently ranked sixth in the nation.

Johnson had spent the previous four seasons at Mississippi State and was not Spurrier's first choice last December after former coordinator Tyrone Nix left to go to Ole Miss. The Gamecocks brought on ex-Atlanta Falcons assistant Brian VanGorder to take over while Johnson accepted the coordinator's job with new Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

About a month later VanGorder returned to the NFL club as its defensive coordinator, opening the door for Johnson, born in Winnsboro, S.C., to return home.

No harm done, unless it's to opposing ball carriers. Johnson's defense features several playmakers with pro futures, including defensive backs Captain Munnerlyn and Emanuel Cook, and linebackers Jasper Brinkley and Eric Norwood.

With his new contract, Johnson's got time to mold future standouts, too.

``I'm very thankful to coach Spurrier and the administration for the vote of confidence,'' Johnson said. ``What we have been able to accomplish is due to the efforts of our coaches and players. I'm excited about being at South Carolina and my family is very happy to be here as well.''

Meanwhile, Hyman said he and Tanner talked about an extension to the baseball coach's contract during annual season-wrap up meetings last summer. Hyman waited until October to follow through, in part because the school was in transition between outgoing president Andrew Sorensen and current leader Harris Pastides.

Hyman also said Tanner's raise was not driven by the mega-contract signed last May by new women's basketball coach Dawn Staley that pays her $650,000 a year.

``You're bringing up something that a lot of people have talked about,'' Hyman said. ``As I said from then to now, (the contracts) are totally unrelated.''

Tanner's deal also includes incentives that could push his income to $515,000.

Nailing Tanner in place should add to next season's excitement for baseball fans. South Carolina is about 80 percent complete on a $35.6 million stadium to replace crumbling Sarge Frye Field and scheduled to debut in February, Hyman said.

``I'm extremely happy to be here and I look forward to opening our new stadium as we continue our quest to compete for championships and to return to Omaha'' for the College World Series, Tanner said in a statement.