Lamont Paris introduced as the new Gamecocks coach
March 24, 2022
South Carolina inked Paris, 47, to a five-year, $12 million dollar contract to replace 10-year head coach Frank Martin, who was fired on March 14 after an 18-13 (9-9 SEC) season. Paris will average $2.4 million per year after making $250,000 at Chattanooga. Martin was making $3.2 million at the time of his firing.
Standing on the center of the court at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday evening, Lamont Paris cracked a confident, facetious smile. The brand-new South Carolina men’s basketball coach turned toward athletic director Ray Tanner and thanked the USC administration for “recognizing greatness when they see it.” Laughter echoed through the arena as Paris continued, laughing, “I mean, what else am I supposed to say.
A former assistant under Bo Ryan and Greg Gard at Wisconsin, Paris took his first head coaching job with Chattanooga in 2017 and compiled an 87-71 record in his five seasons. He led the Mocs to a 27-8 record this season and the first NCAA tournament appearance in his head coaching tenure. Paris has drawn praise for his recruiting ability at Wisconsin, collecting talent that would help lead the Badgers to two Final Four appearances.
The Gamecocks are hungry to get back to the postseason after making one NCAA tournament appearance a historic 2017 Final Four run — in Martin’s 10 years at the helm. Talking about his desire to get the Gamecocks back into the postseason, Paris said he doesn’t view that mission as a “six-year project.” He described himself as a player’s coach and a lover of a life who likes to keep players loose and lighthearted. That sense of humor came through from his very first words on stage.
Key Quotes
Paris: “I’d like to thank Frank Martin and his staff for the work that they had done here,” Paris said, “putting this program in the state that it is now and with so much optimism to move forward.”
Paris: Got the call from Tanner to interview and he jumped in his car and drove to Columbia, thinks that impressed Tanner, said a lot about his interest in the school and the program
Paris: One of his assistants is in the running to replace him for the UTC job, there is no shortage of people expressing interest in wanting to join his staff. His main priority is to hit the ground recruiting.
Paris: Likes to stay calm, treats his players with respect, it's a different type of young man in 2022, he will let loose at what he thinks is a bad officiating call. He's a player's coach, he tells them the truth and they accept it because of the credit he has built.
Paris: Has already started to reach out to recruits, has connected with the players who have committed to the program already and is going on the road tomorrow to meet with another prospect.
Paris: They will play great defense but not at the expense of offense. Preparation all season is to get ready for the NCAA Tournament. Guys have liked playing for him, he lets them play.
Paris: One area he gets to compete is recruiting, "and I won't lose because of effort. I won't." Another objective for him is to win at a high level, objective is to add to the 9 NCAA appearances by the school, something he thinks he can do quickly.
Paris: Will recruit the state incredibly hard, will know every prospect who has a potential to play at this level, will know some people who others don't know about who can help them win because of how hard they will recruit the state.
Paris: Embracing the past while building for the future, without the great past there is no future, he welcomes all former players to come in and meet him and be close to the program, he wants to enhance the athlete's experience.
Paris: His commitment to players who come to play for him is unrivaled. He plans to engage the community in the program.
Paris: He's a first generation college student, he takes education and development seriously, his dad was a Marine, worked in a factory, mom was a homemaker, they had a PHD in parenting, Paris has to stop to gather his emotions. Both have passed away.
March 24, 2022
South Carolina inked Paris, 47, to a five-year, $12 million dollar contract to replace 10-year head coach Frank Martin, who was fired on March 14 after an 18-13 (9-9 SEC) season. Paris will average $2.4 million per year after making $250,000 at Chattanooga. Martin was making $3.2 million at the time of his firing.
Standing on the center of the court at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday evening, Lamont Paris cracked a confident, facetious smile. The brand-new South Carolina men’s basketball coach turned toward athletic director Ray Tanner and thanked the USC administration for “recognizing greatness when they see it.” Laughter echoed through the arena as Paris continued, laughing, “I mean, what else am I supposed to say.
A former assistant under Bo Ryan and Greg Gard at Wisconsin, Paris took his first head coaching job with Chattanooga in 2017 and compiled an 87-71 record in his five seasons. He led the Mocs to a 27-8 record this season and the first NCAA tournament appearance in his head coaching tenure. Paris has drawn praise for his recruiting ability at Wisconsin, collecting talent that would help lead the Badgers to two Final Four appearances.
The Gamecocks are hungry to get back to the postseason after making one NCAA tournament appearance a historic 2017 Final Four run — in Martin’s 10 years at the helm. Talking about his desire to get the Gamecocks back into the postseason, Paris said he doesn’t view that mission as a “six-year project.” He described himself as a player’s coach and a lover of a life who likes to keep players loose and lighthearted. That sense of humor came through from his very first words on stage.
Key Quotes
Paris: “I’d like to thank Frank Martin and his staff for the work that they had done here,” Paris said, “putting this program in the state that it is now and with so much optimism to move forward.”
Paris: Got the call from Tanner to interview and he jumped in his car and drove to Columbia, thinks that impressed Tanner, said a lot about his interest in the school and the program
Paris: One of his assistants is in the running to replace him for the UTC job, there is no shortage of people expressing interest in wanting to join his staff. His main priority is to hit the ground recruiting.
Paris: Likes to stay calm, treats his players with respect, it's a different type of young man in 2022, he will let loose at what he thinks is a bad officiating call. He's a player's coach, he tells them the truth and they accept it because of the credit he has built.
Paris: Has already started to reach out to recruits, has connected with the players who have committed to the program already and is going on the road tomorrow to meet with another prospect.
Paris: They will play great defense but not at the expense of offense. Preparation all season is to get ready for the NCAA Tournament. Guys have liked playing for him, he lets them play.
Paris: One area he gets to compete is recruiting, "and I won't lose because of effort. I won't." Another objective for him is to win at a high level, objective is to add to the 9 NCAA appearances by the school, something he thinks he can do quickly.
Paris: Will recruit the state incredibly hard, will know every prospect who has a potential to play at this level, will know some people who others don't know about who can help them win because of how hard they will recruit the state.
Paris: Embracing the past while building for the future, without the great past there is no future, he welcomes all former players to come in and meet him and be close to the program, he wants to enhance the athlete's experience.
Paris: His commitment to players who come to play for him is unrivaled. He plans to engage the community in the program.
Paris: He's a first generation college student, he takes education and development seriously, his dad was a Marine, worked in a factory, mom was a homemaker, they had a PHD in parenting, Paris has to stop to gather his emotions. Both have passed away.
