South Carolina Gamecocks men’s basketball coach, Larmont Paris who led the team to a remarkable turnaround, achieving a 26-8 record and securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their 2017 Final Four run Announces his…..
South Carolina Gamecocks men’s basketball head coach Lamont Paris has announced a significant new chapter following his remarkable turnaround of the program. After leading the Gamecocks to a historic 26-8 record in the 2023-24 season and securing their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2017 Final Four run, Paris has agreed to a new six-year contract extension with South Carolina, approved by the university’s board of trustees.
Paris, 49, who became the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men’s basketball program when he was hired in 2022, has quickly transformed the team. Under his leadership, South Carolina achieved the greatest single-season improvement in program history with a 15-win increase from the previous year. The 26 wins tied the 2016-17 Final Four team for the most single-season victories ever recorded by the program. Additionally, the Gamecocks finished tied for second in the SEC with a 13-5 conference record, matching the most SEC wins in program history.
His new contract, reportedly worth over $26 million through the 2029-30 season, reflects the university’s strong commitment to Paris and the basketball program. His salary will start at $3.75 million next season, with scheduled increases up to $5 million in the final year of the deal[5].
Paris has earned numerous accolades, including the 2024 SEC Coach of the Year (both AP and coaches’ votes) and was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year. His coaching career spans over 17 years with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and conference titles.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, Paris expressed excitement about continuing to build on the program’s success, emphasizing the growth of his players and the team’s chemistry as key factors for sustained competitiveness[6].
