“Build her statue now”: College hoops fans react to Dawn Staley’s historic contract extension from South Carolina

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has signed a contract extension with the Gamecocks that will keep her with the program through 2030, the university announced on Friday. Fans have been quick to flood social media with their reactions to the news. Check out some reactions below.

"Yes! The greatest of all time!" one fan wrote.

"Just give her a lifetime contract and build her statue now," another commented.

"We wish there was a 'We REALLY Love This' button. Glad to have you stay on Cola, Coach!" another fan wrote.

Image via Instagram/@ESPN

"Beyond well deserved 🔥 great coach but even greater women. Black excellence," one fan commented.

"She's gonna be up there with Pat Summit and Geno Auriemma as the best women's basketball coaches ever." an Instagram user wrote.

"Wish my son could play for her," another fan commented.

Image via Instagram/@ESPN

This new agreement makes Staley the highest-paid coach in the history of women’s college basketball. The deal includes an annual salary of $4 million, a $500,000 signing bonus, and an annual $250,000 salary increase, bringing the total contract value to approximately $25.25 million.

Dawn Staley becomes highest-paid coach in women's college basketball history

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley made history on Friday by becoming the highest-paid coach in women's college hoops history, leapfrogging LSU's Kim Mulkey and UConn's Geno Auriemma.

Staley's contract is one of the first major deals that has been negotiated by South Carolina’s new athletic director Jeremiah Donati, who took over from Ray Tanner in December after Tanner moved to an advisory role.

"Dawn Staley is a once-in-a-generation coach who has made a tremendous impact on the University of South Carolina," Donati said in the news release. "She has elevated the sport of women’s basketball on the national level and here on campus and I am excited that she will be representing our University for many years to come."

Dawn Staley took the 2023–2024 Gamecocks to a 38–0 record and won her third national championship. Her current squad is 17–1 and ranked No. 2 in the country according to AP's Top 25.