Johnson getting hefty raise
By Travis Haney
COLUMBIA -- Ellis Johnson's name has been a popular one for coaching vacancies around the South in the past couple of months.
Well, South Carolina's assistant head coach in charge of defense isn't going anywhere. And he's going to get paid an awful lot to stay.
USC's board will vote in February on a proposed raise that would double his current salary, school officials confirmed Tuesday.
The proposed $700,000 annual salary, including a two-year extension through the 2013 season, would certainly put Johnson in line with the elite coordinators in the conference and country.
The Gamecocks defense --despite a slew of injuries, suspensions and young players -- finished third in the SEC in yards allowed in 2009.
That was behind only Alabama and Florida, teams that were in the national title hunt all season.
Johnson, 58, heard first this offseason from Georgia, as the Bulldogs worked to replace deposed coordinator Willie Martinez.
Then, last week, Louisiana Tech contacted Johnson about its head coach opening after Derek Dooley left for Tennessee. Tennessee talked with Johnson, too, about joining Dooley in a similar role to the one he has in Columbia.
The Vols came with an offer between $600,000 and $1 million -- something that then prompted South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman and coach Steve Spurrier to assure Johnson that a lucrative raise was soon on the way.
For lots of reasons, it's obvious Johnson, a native of nearby Winnsboro, would rather stay than leave.
Johnson, a former head coach at The Citadel, has coached in South Carolina long enough that he's in line for state retirement. Also, his wife, Caroline, has opened a women's clothing store, Miss Cocky, adjacent to Colonial Life Arena.
Spring notes
South Carolina said that spring football practice is tentatively set to begin March 16. The spring game is set for April 10. The Gamecocks' pro day will take place March 31.
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.
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