| Herald-Journal
Although he was recently hired by Clemson’s fierce rival, South Carolina’s new wide receiver coach Justin Stepp has admiration for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.
The biggest break in coaching career for the ex-Furman Stepp came when he left after a season as an assistant in North Greenville to join Swinney’s first full team as a senior assistant in 2009.
It also helped to instill in Stepp a sense of superior belief that has remained ingrained to this day and makes him believe that there is no reason why Gamecocks cannot reach Clemson’s level of success.
“I would literally not be here today if Coach Swinney did not give me a job as a graduate assistant,” Stepp said earlier this week at his introductory virtual press conference. “I owe it to Coach Swinney.”
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Stepp, 37, had previously remembered researching Swinney’s public speaking schedule, marking dates on a calendar and making sure to be there each time to receive as much as he could before and after the face-to-face speech.
“I practically chased him and (former USC) coach (Steve) Spurrier trying to get a job,” said Stepp on Monday. “I would show up wherever they were talking. If (Swinney) was talking, I would be the last guy to leave. He remembers that, and I am forever indebted to him for giving me a job.”
Stepp spent three seasons at Clemson on the ground floor of the current national strength program that Swinney was just beginning to manufacture.
The Tigers went 9-5 in 2009, just 6-7 the following year before going 10-4 during the final season of Stepp, the first season of the program’s 10 wins in 21 years. Clemson has not won less than that since the 2011 season.
“The most original thing about it, being part of Coach Swinney’s first team, was Coach Swinney preaching national championships and ACC championships and everything from his first team meeting in Clemson,” said Stepp. “I remember being there and listening to that. But I think it’s the power of belief. I think everyone in the world would be kidding himself if he didn’t think it directly affected his players.
“The amount of confidence he has in himself and his team and in this program is exactly why they are where they are today. It bleeds for the players. To see what it was like when I got there, to see what they are doing it now, there’s no reason why we can’t do it here at the University of South Carolina. That would be thing # 1, the belief that you can do it. So obviously, make kids believe the same thing.
“If you get up every day and walk in this building and don’t realize how blessed you are to be here, then you don’t have to be here. We have the best of the best in this building. I really believe it when you believe it with all your heart. and your kids can see it, you can’t pretend. It bleeds for them too. “