Shane Beamer

Dec 30, 2021; Charlotte, NC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer acknowledges the fans after the win over North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium. Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Beamer is entering his third season as South Carolina’s head coach after taking over for Will Muschamp.

Beamer wasted no time in turning South Carolina football around, too. He exceeded South Carolina’s combined win totals from 2019 and 2020 (6) in his first season, finishing with a 7-6 record. That included a Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina. He followed it up with another strong season in 2022, finishing 8-5 with back-to-back top-10 wins over Tennessee and Clemson.

Beamer developed a strong defense and took after his father with some Beamerball special teams/defensive magic. However, the catalyst for South Carolina’s late season success in 2022 was quarterback Spencer Rattler, who found another gear against Tennessee in the penultimate game of the regular season. South Carolina scored 63 points on the Vols, never having to punt in as shocking of a victory college football saw all season.

But so what, right? The Vols were not at their best and Rattler got hot. It was a fluke, at least according to some national outlets, fans on social media and so on. Beamer proved that narrative incorrect a week later against Clemson.

South Carolina vs. Clemson is one of the more underrated rivalries in college sports. These schools do not like each other and have a fairly competitive history, with Clemson holding a 68-41-4 record all-time. But the Tigers had South Carolina’s number heading into 2022: Clemson had won 7 straight and, with a College Football Playoff berth on the line, were heavy favorites to make it 8. Instead, South Carolina won 31-30 at Clemson.

That’s a big deal in Columbia, folks. As is a combined head coaching record of 15-11 after the Gamecocks went 2-8 in 2020. Now, it’s time for Beamer and South Carolina to take that next step.

It’s no wonder Beamer has proven to be one of the better young coaches in college football. He’s the son of iconic Virginia Tech and Murray State head coach Frank Beamer, who was recently elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Shane Beamer, naturally, started his football career at Virginia Tech as a walk-on receiver. He played long snapper for the 1999 Virginia Tech team that went to the national title game (yes, Shane Beamer was teammates with Michael Vick).

Beamer parlayed his playing career into a graduate assistant position at Georgia Tech and later Tennessee. He then accepted a role at Mississippi State as a cornerbacks coach and performed various duties at MSU and South Carolina until 2010, when he was hired by Virginia Tech as associate head coach. He made 2 more stops at Georgia and Oklahoma before being named South Carolina’s head coach in 2021.

Now, the Gamecocks are recruiting well, finishing well in the SEC East and seem set to be a dark horse in the SEC East in 2023. In other words: buckle up, ladies and gentlemen. Beamer’s run at South Carolina is just getting started.

Shane Beamer’s Coaching Experience

2000: Georgia Tech — Graduate assistant
2001-2003: Tennessee — Graduate assistant
2004-05: Mississippi State — Cornerbacks coach/recruiting coordinator
2006: Mississippi State – Running backs coach/recruiting coordinator
2007: South Carolina — Outside linebackers coach/co-special teams coordinator
2008: South Carolina — Cornerbacks coach
2009-10: South Carolina — Safeties coach/special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator
2011-2015: Virginia Tech — Associate head coach/running backs coach
2016-17: Georgia — Tight ends coach/special teams coordinator
2018-20: Oklahoma — Assistant head coach/tight ends coach
2021-present: South Carolina — Head coach

Head Coaching Record

South Carolina (2 seasons): 15-11 (7-9 in SEC play)