South Carolina officially announced on Sunday that Oklahoma assistant Shane Beamer will be their next football coach, succeeding Will Muschamp, who was sacked after a 2-5 start this season. Beamer is the son of legendary former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, and worked as a Gamecocks assistant from 2007 to 2010 with Steve Spurrier.
“I believe Shane Beamer is the perfect choice to be the football coach at the University of South Carolina,” South Carolina sporting director Ray Tanner said in a press release announcing the signing. “He worked with some of the greatest coaches in college football and took these classes to become one of the young and brilliant minds in the sport. I believe that Shane’s energy, enthusiasm, commitment and affection for our school and program will be favorably served by our students – athletes, employees and fans. “
Beamer was never a head coach, but he worked at Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia Tech and Georgia, as well as his stints as an assistant in South Carolina and Oklahoma. Most recently, he has served as an assistant coach and coach for the Sooners. The 43-year-old was a substitute player for his father at Virginia Tech from 1995 to 1999.
“I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life,” said Beamer. “I am ready and excited to be the head football coach at the University of South Carolina. I thank all the coaches I worked for, the assistant coaches and the student-athletes I worked with. My family and I are thrilled to be returning to Columbia and the state of South Carolina. “
Beamer was not on the pitch during Oklahoma’s 27-14 victory over Baylor on Saturday when the Sooners won their place in the Big 12 Championship Game. No official reason was provided for the absence, although it is believed to be related to COVID-19.
Muschamp was 28-30 (17-22 SEC) in almost five full seasons with the program. Among the other job-related names was Billy Napier, from Louisiana, who issued a statement that he is staying with the Ragin ‘Cajuns and Louisville coach Scott Satterfield.
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