South Carolina women’s basketball is locking in its entire coaching crew for the foreseeable future — and paying them more to stay.
According to documents obtained by The State through a Freedom of Information Act request, every assistant coach under Dawn Staley has signed a contract extension with a salary bump. This comes after Staley herself agreed in January to a massive extension through 2030 worth $25.25 million.
Assistant Coaches Get New Deals
Previously, the contracts for Lisa Boyer, Jolette Law, Mary Wooley, and Khadijah Sessions were set to expire March 31, 2025. Now, all are secured through March 31, 2026, with raises effective February 1. Wendale Farrow, hired in April, starts under the new pay structure.
Here’s the breakdown of the new salaries:
- Lisa Boyer: $512,600 (up from $432,600) – still Staley’s top-paid assistant, with an $80,000 raise.
- Jolette Law: $353,992 (up from $319,042)
- Mary Wooley: $227,520 (up from $189,262)
- Khadijah Sessions: $85,125 (up from $50,000)
In total, assistant raises amounted to $188,333. Boyer’s salary is so high it would rank 57th among head coaches in USA Today’s women’s basketball database — though that list hasn’t been updated in over a year.
Wendale Farrow’s Contract Details
Farrow, who joined April 18 after Winston Gandy left for the head coaching job at Grand Canyon, signed his deal on April 22. His contract runs through March 31, 2026, and pays $400,000 annually, making him the second-highest-paid assistant.
Performance bonuses include:
- One month’s salary if South Carolina reaches the NCAA Tournament.
- An additional month’s salary if the team makes the Final Four.
Farrow also gets up to $20,000 in moving expenses and can choose between a courtesy car or a monthly automobile stipend.
Raises for Support Staff
It wasn’t just the coaches cashing in. Several staff members also received extensions and pay raises, effective February 1, and running through March 31, 2026:
- Ariana Moore (Director of Operations): $205,875 (up from $162,225)
- Tracy Murphy (Assistant Director of Operations): $72,350
- Freddy Ready (Director of Player Development): $113,466 (up from $86,520)
- Hudson Jacobs (Director of Video Services): $118,466
- Diane Palmer (Special Assistant to Head Coach): $88,937 (up from $81,112)
Director of sports performance Molly Binetti and athletic trainer Craig Oates are under contract until June 30, 2025, so details of any changes to their deals were not available at the time of the FOIA request.
In short, from the bench to the back office, South Carolina’s women’s basketball program is keeping its championship-caliber team together — and rewarding them for staying.
