There has been a high turnover in the South Carolina football program as a running back coach, not just recently, but for the past 20 years. There were also some very successful coaches in the position. New running back trainer Montario Hardesty, which has not yet been officially confirmed by the school, will be the tenth assistant in that position since 2002.
There were five coaches who were one and only one coach is around for more than three seasons in that position.
Gamecocks have enjoyed some very good coaches on the spot, however. The last two – Des Kitchings in 2020 and Thomas Brown in 2019 – both left office to take a vacant position in the National Football League. Some were undoubtedly the best recruiters on the technical team during their time with Gamecocks. Many went on to bigger roles after their time in South Carolina ended.
Hardesty, a prominent Tennessee runner who also played in the NFL after being selected in the second round of the draft, spent the past two seasons with the Charlotte 49ers, where he served as coach of the wide receivers.
Perhaps Hardesty will bring some stability to accompany production in the position, but there is no doubt that the Gamecocks have had some very successful coaches over the past 20 seasons.
Here’s a look at who trained the Gamecocks running backs, along with a look at their respective careers.
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