South Carolina to pay $3.95 million to Muschamp's assistants

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina will pay Will Muschamp's football assistants less than it did to Steve Spurrier's staff last season.

The school's trustees Friday approved contracts for Muschamp's nine assistants totaling $3,950,000. That is slightly less than the $3,995,000 paid to those who worked for Steve Spurrier last fall.

Muschamp, hired in December, will make $3 million, which is less than the $4 million paid to Spurrier last season.

Defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson is the highest paid assistant at $750,000 per year. Co-offensive coordinator Kurt Roper will earn $700,000.

Assistant head coach Lance Thompson, in charge of the defensive line, and offensive line coach Shawn Elliott will each make $500,000. Elliott became South Carolina's interim coach after Spurrier left in mid-October. Elliott was the only member of Spurrier's staff retained by Muschamp.