History lesson: South Carolina’s all-time head football coaches

New South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp and Steve Spurrier, the man he’d eventually follow, chat in 2013. Gerry Melendez gmelendez@thestate.com

Name	Yrs.	W-L-T
1. W. A. Whaley	1896	1-3-0
2. W.P. Murphy	1897	0-3-0
3. W. Wertenbaker	1898	1-2-0
4. I. O. Hunt	1899-1900	6-6-0
5. B. W. Dickson	1901	3-4-0
6. C. R. Williams	1902-03	14-3-0
7. Christie Benet	1904-05, 08-09	13-16-3
8. Douglas McKay	1907	3-0-0
9. John H. Neff	1910-11	5-8-2
10. N. B. Edgerton	1912-15	19-13-3
11. Rice Warren	1916	2-7-0
12. Dixon Foster	1917, 1919	4-12-1
13. Frank Dobson	1918	2-1-1
14. Sol Metzger	1920-24	26-18-2
15. Branch Bocock	1925-26	13-7-0
16. Harry Lightsey	1927	4-5-0
17. Billy Laval	1928-34	39-26-6
18. Don McCallister	1935-37	13-20-1
19. Rex Enright	1938-42, 46-55	64-69-7
20. J. P. Moran	1943	5-2-0
21. William Newton	1944	3-4-2
22. Johnnie McMillan	1945	2-4-3
23. Warren Giese	1956-60	28-21-1
24. Marvin Bass	1961-65	17-29-4
25. Paul Dietzel	1966-74	42-53-1
26. Jim Carlen	1975-81	45-36-1
27. Richard Bell	1982	4-7-0
28. Joe Morrison	1983-88	39-28-2
29. Sparky Woods	1989-93	24-28-3
30. Brad Scott	1994-98	23-32-1
31. Lou Holtz	1999-2004	33-37-0
32. Steve Spurrier	2005-15	86-49-0
33. Shawn Elliott	2015	1-5

Highlights

Billy Laval

Laval produced a program-record seven consecutive winning seasons. Steve Spurrier also had seven consecutive winning seasons from 2008-14. Coached football, basketball and baseball at Emory and Henry College before retiring. Later, he operated sporting goods stores and worked in the front office of minor league baseball teams in Greenwood and Rock Hill.

Rex Enright

Held the title of South Carolina’s winningest coach in program history before Spurrier topped the mark in 2011. Enright did not coach again after retiring at USC, and died in 1960 at the age of 59.

Warren Giese

In 1958, Giese led the Gamecocks to a 7-3 record, including a 5-2 mark in the ACC. USC finished the season ranked No. 13. Giese served as a South Carolina State Senator for 20 years after coaching.

Marvin Bass

Despite a .380 winning percentage, Bass posted a 3-2 record against Clemson. Spent several seasons as an NFL assistant, including stints with the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons.

Paul Dietzel

Led USC to its only conference title, the 1969 ACC championship. Served as the AD at Indiana University and LSU. Helped improve USC facilities.

Jim Carlen

The late coach helped the Gamecocks reach three bowl games during his tenure and coached Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. Helped start the football program at Hilton Head Christian Academy, coaching the JV team in 2001 and varsity team in 2002 in the school’s first seasons.

Richard Bell

The best of Bell’s four wins was a 17-14 victory over Navy. Spent time as an assistant at Duke, ECU, Georgia, Navy and Air Force. Currently an assistant high school coach at Prince Avenue Christian in Georgia.

Joe Morrison

Started the tradition of 2001. His “Fire Ant” defense in 1984 helped produce one of USC’s best seasons (10-2). The Gamecocks were ranked No. 2 and 9-0 before being upset by Navy. Died of a heart attack a couple of months after the 1988 season.

Sparky Woods

Was South Carolina’s football coach as the Gamecocks transitioned into the SEC. Has had assistant coaching stops with the New York Jets, Memphis, Virginia, Mississippi State, Alabama and currently Richmond. Also was the head coach at VMI from 2008-14.

Brad Scott

Led South Carolina to a Carquest Bowl victory over West Virginia following the 1994 season, USC’s first bowl win in program history. After being fired at USC, Scott joined the staff at Clemson and remained an on-field coach until 2011. He is still on Clemson’s football support staff.

Lou Holtz

After going 0-11 his first season, Holtz led South Carolina to back-to-back Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State in 2000 and 2001. Later worked as a college football analyst and motivational speaker.

Steve Spurrier

Led the USC program to new heights, reaching 11 wins three straight years after never previously having an 11-win season. South Carolina also beat Clemson five times in a row and finished the 2013 season ranked No. 4.

Matt Connolly

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 9:54 PM with the headline "History lesson: South Carolina’s all-time head football coaches."