The longest-tenured coaches at South Carolina are ...
A lot of history and experience will walk out the door June 30 when Curtis Frye retires as the University of South Carolina’s track and field coach.
Frye’s impending career move was announced Thursday. With 27 years as the Gamecocks’ coach, he held the distinction the last two years as being USC’s longest-tenured coach.
Before Frye, men’s soccer coach Mark Berson retired in April 2021 after 43 seasons at South Carolina.
Frye’s departure will leave two coaches with more than 20 years of experience coaching at USC. Here’s a list — ranked from newest to longest-tenured — of current South Carolina coaches.
Lamont Paris, men’s basketball: He’ll be entering his second season at South Carolina in 2023-24. He became the program’s 33rd head coach when he was hired March 24, 2022.
Tony Annan, men’s soccer: Annan is entering his third season at USC. He was hired April 22, 2021 as just the second head coach program history.
Jeff Poppell, men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Hired April 9, 2021, Poppell just completed his second season as both programs’ coach.
Shane Beamer, football: Beamer is entering Year 3 with the Gamecocks. He was hired Dec. 6, 2020 as the Gamecocks’ 36th head football coach.
Tom Mendoza, volleyball: Mendoza was hired in January 2018 as the program’s 13th head coach. He has coached five seasons with the Gamecocks.
Mark Kingston, baseball: He was hired June 30, 2017 as the program’s 30th all-time coach. Kingston has six seasons under his belt in Columbia.
Moritz Moritz, beach volleyball: The first and only head coach in program history, Moritz just wrapped up his 10th season at USC.
Josh Goffi, men’s tennis: Hired at South Carolina in July 2010, he just wrapped up his 12th season. USC is his first and only college head coaching job.
Beverly Smith, softball: She just completed her 13th season at South Carolina. She was hired in July 2010.
Dawn Staley, women’s basketball: She was hired in May 2008 as the program’s seventh all-time head coach. She’s won two national championships in 15 seasons at USC and is the program’s all-time winningest coach.
Kalen Anderson, women’s golf: She was hired at USC in January 2008 and just completed her 16th year as the program’s head coach.
Bill McDonald, men’s golf: Hired in summer 2007, the 2022-23 season was his 17th as USC’s golf coach. He’s the winningest coach in program history.
Kevin Epley, women’s tennis: Epley was hired June 11, 2002 and just wrapped up his 19th season as South Carolina’s coach.
Shelley Smith, women’s soccer: Smith has coached the Gamecocks for 22 seasons.
Boo Major, equestrian: Major has been head coach at South Carolina for 25 seasons. She’s one of two active Gamecock coaches with multiple national championships (three) at USC.
This story was originally published June 15, 2023 at 4:45 PM.
