My Top Candidates For The Coaching 

Job At South Carolina 

 
 
 
 
 
Shane Beamer ​- Shane Beamer has had a 
tremendous amount of success as a Offensive 
Coordinator. Shane Bearmer’s first year as an assistant coach at Virginia 
Tech where he would go on to take David Wilson, the running back at the 
time, would break the school’s rushing record in a single season. Beamer is 
the best choice and he deserves this opportunity to put South Carolina back 
on the right track. The reason I feel like Beamer will be South Carolina’s 
best option is that he was a special teams/outside linebacker coach and a 
Recruiting Coordinator in his final two years at South Carolina under Steve 
Spurrier. Not only did he help Spurrier out tremendously, but he also was 
recruiting at a very high level with his first class as a recruiting Coordinator 
that ranked ​12th​ best in the nation. 
South Carolina would then go on to have once again back to back top 
25 classes in 2010 and 2011. Shane Beamer would then have an extraordinary 
season in 2019, having one of the best offensive teams in college football 
with Oklahoma. They would go on to finish with ​537.8​ offensive yards a 
game including a total of 5 touchdowns per game. Bieber has shown interest 
and I believe he will be coming to the Gamecocks in December. If we were to 
bring in Beamer then I feel like he would push to bring Alex Grinch with him 
as well from Oklahoma. He has helped out that defense tremendously in just 
2 years going from one of the worst defenses, to one of the top 50 best. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steve Sarkisian ​ - posing a ​46-35​ record as a 
head coach, Sarkisan has had some mediocre 
seasons with Washington and USC. After having a decent year at USC with a 
9-4 ​record in 2014, he would then go onto start next season 3-2 just to be 
fired after 5 games. Later on he would then get his shot at the University 
Of Alabama, where he would go onto lead a team with an extreme athletic 
and fast offense that seemed to be unstoppable. The reason Sarkisian and 
Beamer are my top 2 is having an offensive minded coach is something we 
need and need bad. Mike Bobo might move on this year after the firing of 
Muschamp, so that leaves a question to where do we go now? 
If we were to get Sarkisian then I could see Travaris Robertson 
being done and Sarkisian bringing in his former defensive coordinator Justin 
Wilcox from USC, now the Head Coach at California. While at California, 
Justin Wilcox has averaged a ​top 35​ defense every year except his first 
year in 2017. These two could be the difference maker for the Gamecocks 
and with his recruiting talent, we could see some big names in the next year 
or two.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bill Napier​ - ​In his first two seasons as a 
head coach, Napier has made a mark on why 
he is already an experienced coach with a ​18-10 ​record with 2 division 
titles. In my personal opinion I don't see Napier coming as it seems he loves 
his job and even dismissed the rumors of coming to South Carolina, but 
anything can happen. During his time in Louisiana Lafayette he has averaged 
a ​top 10​ offense with also a​ top 20​ defense. Napier is a great choice for 
the Gamecocks and if he was to decide he wanted to come then not only does 
he have a great recruiting and coaching mind but he has a great defensive 
coordinator in Patrick Toney as he is only 30 years old giving a great 
defensive presence every game this season. These two would really make a 
huge difference at Carolina for the next 20+ years if things work out and 
Napier decides to join the Gamecocks in 2021. 
Napier has shown signs of being one of the best coaches in college 
football with the Ragin Cajuns as the first game of the season beating #​17 
Iowa State ​31-14​. The Gamecocks have some good choices to choose from, 
but these two being the youngest choices could impact Ray Tanner's decision 
on getting Napier for a decent amount.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bryan Harsin​ - ​Bryan Harsin right now is the head 
coach at Boise State. Harsin is a dark horse that 
nobody really has been talking about for the South Carolina Head Coaching 
job. At Boise State Harsin has boasts a record of ​64-17​ with an average of 
10 wins per season. At the age of 44 he is perfect for the gamecocks and I 
see a great coach in him. Boise States 2020 class ranked ​65th​ in the nation 
with multiple three stars.  
Harsin reminds me a lot of Steve Spurrier when it comes to recruiting 
and the level of talent he gets as he turns these three starts into 
superstars having ten plus wins every year with this kind of recruiting and 
that's called being a hardworking and developmental coach. Last year Boise 
State finished with a ​12-2 ​record averaging ​34.7​ points a game finishing 
19th​ in the nation and allowed ​21 ​points per game finishing ​31st​ in the 
nation. With a school like South Carolina, Harsin would be able to recruit at a 
high level and turn top talent into elite talent. Bringing Harsin could also 
mean bringing his Offensive Coordinator from Boise State with him Eric 
Kiesau. Kiesau has averaged a top 20 offense in the country besides one year 
in 2017. Harsin is a top 5 candidate for me and hoping to see him in the 
discussion soon. 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mike Elko​ - ​Elko is the only defensive 
minded on this list and here's why. 
While at Texas A&M, Elko has been dominant on defense and it’s something 
that South Carolina needs. Just last year, The Aggies ranked ​8th​ in total 
defense humiliating offenses in the SEC. If Elko was to take over as the 
Gamecocks head coach big things could come. Under Elko there could easily 
be a top 20 defense in his 2nd year including hopefully having Bobo by his 
side running the offense with a future NFL running back in Kevin Harris and 
young talent within Luke Doty and Gunner Stockton. If Bobo was to leave 
then it would be a great pickup as Mike Elko coached with Chip Long at Notre 
Dame which could be a good possibility that he could get Chip Long to come 
help him coach for the Gamecocks. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY CHASE MILLER 
 
11/19/2020