SEC Coach Of The Year Lamont Paris Lands New Six-Year Deal At South Carolina

by Staff Reporter

March 14, 20240 Comments

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina has agreed to a new six-year contract with Lamont Paris that will keep him with the school through the 2029-30 season and average more than $4 million.

Paris, who was named SEC Coach of the Year after a historic season in in Columbia, was a candidate for the Ohio State, according to ESPN.

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Paris' name emerged in the Ohio State search and likely would have in others, and the deal ensures he'll be off the market as the coaching carousel heats up in the upcoming weeks.

The decisive move by athletic director Ray Tanner marks a strong commitment to men's basketball at South Carolina, which has made just one men's NCAA basketball tournament since 2004.

This year, Paris has South Carolina on the cusp of its first NCAA appearance since 2017. South Carolina has gone 25-6 this season and a projected No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament.

That came after South Carolina was picked last in the SEC in the preseason. The Gamecocks finished one-game behind outright regular-season champion Tennessee among four teams tied with a 13-5 SEC record. Paris entered this season as the lowest-paid coach in the SEC, making $2.3 million this year.