Spurrier gets $700,000 raise, university moving forward with public-private partnership
The board of trustees approved new contracts for head football coach Steve Spurrier and all nine assistant coaches Thursday, as well as a public-private partnership with Holder Properties Inc. to construct the upcoming West Campus development project.
Spurrier will receive a $700,000 raise, bringing his total salary from $3.3 million to $4 million. Should this be Spurrier’s last contract with USC, he will be presented with opportunity to serve as Special Advisor to the President and the Athletics Director, should be maintain a residence in Columbia.
The new contracts of eight assistant coaches which will begin February 1, 2014 and end January 31, 2016. Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward’s new contract will also begin next month, but will extend until January 31, 2017.
The West Campus development project is set to begin construction early this year. It will include two student housing complexes, an office building and subsequent parking accommodations.
Between the two student housing buildings, there will be 878 beds and 689 parking spaces; both housing phases will cost $94.55 million in construction.
Following the board’s approval of the lease agreements between the university and Holder Properties Inc., several approvals are still needed before design for the project can be finalized, including those of the design approval by USC and the City of Columbia, as well as lease approval by the Commission on Higher Education and the Budget and Control Board.
According to university spokesman Wes Hickman, Holder Properties Inc. was selected after an “extensive process.” Hickman said Holder Properties is familiar with the Columbia area and has constructed multiple developments in the area.