Shane Beamer is the new head coach of South Carolina football. The University made the formal announcement of the hiring Sunday, three weeks to the day that former head coach Will Muschamp was fired. The move marks a return to Columbia for Beamer, who served on Steve Spurrier’s staff from 2007-2010 and was part of South Carolina's lone SEC East division championship.
The Gamecocks completed their 2020 regular season with a loss to Kentucky on Saturday, dropping their record to 2-8. Beamer arrived in town on Sunday on the University’s private plane and met with his new players later that afternoon. The 43-year old joins the Gamecocks after spending three seasons as Oklahoma’s tight ends and halfbacks coach under Lincoln Riley and will now set to work rebuilding a program coming off back-to-back seasons with eight losses.
Who is Shane Beamer?
Beamer has no previous head coaching experience, but the son of legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has spent the past 20 years with Power 5 programs. His mentors and bosses have included some of the game’s greats, including his father, Spurrier, Riley, George O’Leary, and Phillip Fulmer.
“I have been preparing for this moment my entire life,” Beamer said in a statement. “I am ready and excited to be the head football coach at the University of South Carolina. I am thankful to all the head coaches that I have worked for, the assistant coaches and student-athletes I have worked with. My family and I are thrilled to be coming back to Columbia and the state of South Carolina.”
“I believe that Shane Beamer is the perfect fit to be the head football coach at the University of South Carolina,” South Carolina AD Ray Tanner said. “He has worked under some of the greatest coaches in college football and has taken those lessons to become one of the bright, young minds in the game. I believe Shane’s energy, enthusiasm, commitment, and fondness for our school and program will be met favorably by our student-athletes, staff, and fans.”
Support System
Beamer also has the support of some notable former Gamecocks — earning endorsements from Stephon Gilmore and Melvin Ingram (both in the NFL), as well as former quarterback Stephen Garcia. It was previously reported that the school was considering Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield, Louisiana head coach Billy Napier and Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. But they ultimately decided on Beamer, the only one of that bunch to have been on a South Carolina staff. Last week, Satterfield noted that he would listen to S.C. representatives but had no intentions of leaving Louisville.
Beamer had also become an asset as a recruiter, helping the program sign star players like Gilmore, Alshon Jeffery, Marcus Lattimore, and Jadeveon Clowney during his first stint there. He’ll have to hit the ground running with the early-signing period set for December 16, especially after six players de-committed following the Muschamp firing. South Carolins closed out their season with six straight losses, with their two wins coming against Auburn and Vanderbilt. Vandy fired their head coach, Derek Mason, a week ago, and Auburn head man Guz Malzahn is on many a hot-seat list.
.svg)
