Montario Hardesty it was a four-star running back, an All-SEC running back, an NFL running back and now he manages to train the position he always dreamed of.
A tailback born and raised, when Hardesty chose to enter coaching after his playing career, he chose a less traveled path to prove to himself that he could succeed in this business. Hardesty went to Chowan University to serve as an intern in 2014 and then to Norfolk State to train running backs before deciding to join larger programs.
“I chose this opportunity (at Norfolk State) instead of being a graduate assistant at a power five school because I wanted to train my own position, learn how to recruit and do these things,” said Hardesty. “Being at the SEC as running backs has always been a dream of mine in coaching. “
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Before having the opportunity to train assistants in South Carolina, Hardesty made an effort to be part of other areas of a football team. After Norfolk State (2015-16), where he also spent time as coordinator of special teams, Hardesty was a strength and fitness assistant at Florida Atlantic in 2017, offensive quality control technician in Tennessee, his alma mater, and then went to Charlotte and trained wide receivers for two years.
“At the beginning, I wanted to show the coaches and myself that I could coach other positions,” said Hardesty. “For later in life I wanted to be good at all things offensive. I wanted to stay outside. Since I was a running back, the receivers didn’t block much. I wanted to involve these guys in the racing game and also understand the quarterback readings and the different things that a wide receiver has to do, and understand the coverage.
“It will only help me to train running backs, but running back is what I have played all my life, since I was seven years old. Training really good running backs and being at the SEC training them is a dream of mine ”.
Gamecocks Head Coach Shane Beamer he certainly saw Hardesty’s path in his young coaching career.
“I love his journey as a coach – the places he has been and the roles he has played,” said Beamer. “
Now, back to what he knows best, Hardesty knows exactly what he wants from Gamecock tailbacks.
“Running backs are the energy starters,” said Hardesty. “The only thing I want to see from my guys when we start this thing is passion and energy every day. We are going to be the energy starters for the team.”