Steve Spurrier to earn $4 million

— -- South Carolina Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier will be among the nation's 10 highest-paid college coaches after trustees approved a pay raise to $4 million per year Thursday.

In addition, the contract for the 68-year-old Spurrier was extended by one year through the 2018 season. His coaching staff also received raises and two-year contracts through the 2015 season.

"We appreciate the attitude of the Board of Trustees in keeping our salaries competitive with the rest of the SEC," Spurrier said in a statement. "We all hope to coach here many more years and we still have some goals that have not been accomplished yet."

Spurrier earned $3.3 million in 2013 as he led the Gamecocks to an 11-2 record, a victory in the Capital One Bowl and a No. 4 ranking in the final poll – the highest in school history. He is the winningest coach in the program's history with a 77-39 record.

The new agreement also states that Spurrier, after he quits coaching, will become a special assistant to the university president and the athletics director.

"With three straight top 10 finishes, South Carolina is as good as any program in the country," athletic director Ray Tanner said in the release. "The contract raises and extensions for Coach Spurrier and his staff are a reflection of that success and are well-deserved."

Spurrier, who will start his 22nd season as a head coach in the SEC in 2014, will remain the fifth-highest paid coach in the SEC behind Alabama's Nick Saban ($5.4 million), Arkansas' Bret Bielema ($5.16 million), Tennessee's Butch Jones ($4.86 million) and LSU's Les Miles ($4.3 million).