Shawn Elliott returning to South Carolina as assistant coach
Shawn Elliott is coming back to South Carolina.
Elliott, most recently the Georgia State head coach, is rejoining the Gamecocks’ staff as an assistant, a source with knowledge of his decision confirmed to The State on Thursday.
He’ll be the Gamecocks’ new tight ends coach and replace Justin Stepp, who left the USC staff to become Illinois’ receivers coach. GamecockCentral and 247Sports were the first to report the news.
His hire at USC is expected to be made official Friday. The university’s board of trustees will meet Friday morning for the “approval of athletics employment contract,” according to the agenda for the meeting.
Elliott has been the head coach at Georgia State since 2017. He resigned from that position Thursday morning, the school confirmed.
“It’s extremely difficult to step away from the Georgia State football program, particularly the players and staff who have gone above and beyond,” Elliott said Thursday via a Georgia State statement. “As hard as this decision is professionally, it’s something that I must do personally.”
Elliott informed Georgia State’s players of the move in a team meeting, Panthers team sources told The State. Georgia State started its spring practices this week but has postponed them and the spring game in the wake of Elliott’s decision to leave.
“We want to thank Shawn Elliott for his hard work and dedication the last seven years to build this football program,” Georgia State athletic director Charlie Cobb said in a statement. “I know this was a difficult decision for him, but I understand his personal reasons, and we wish the best for Shawn and his family.”
Elliott, who is from Camden, was an assistant coach at USC from 2010-16. He was the interim head coach at the end of 2015 season after Steve Spurrier resigned.
Despite being the Georgia State coach in Atlanta, Elliott’s family continued to live in Columbia, with his children attending A.C. Flora High School.
Elliott was 41-44 at Georgia State in seven seasons with five bowl appearances. Georgia State went 7-6 in 2023 and defeated Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Elliott earned a contract extension at Georgia State in 2020 and made $811,000 in 2023, according to the USA Today salary database. The upcoming season was the final year of his contract.
GamecockCentral reported that Elliott will coach tight ends under Shane Beamer and have the title of run game coordinator.
He would be the fourth new addition to Beamer’s coaching staff following a 2023 season where the Gamecocks finished 5-7 overall. Joe DeCamillis was hired to coach special teams, with James Coley (wide receivers) and Marquel Blackwell (running backs) also joining the staff.
Running backs coach Montario Hardesty was fired, while special teams coach Pete Lembo and tight ends coach Jody Wright both left for head coaching opportunities. Stepp briefly moved over to fill Wright’s spot before opting to leave for Illinois.
South Carolina will begin spring practice March 19 and hold its spring game is at 7 p.m. April 20.
SOUTH CAROLINA ASSISTANT COACHES
Clayton White (DC) — $1.2 million
Dowell Loggains (OC) — $1 million
Joe DeCamillis (ST) — $800,000
James Coley (WRs) — $750,000 (average)
Torrian Gray (DBs) — $675,000
Sterling Lucas (DEs/OLBs) — $575,000
Shawn Elliott (TEs) — salary TBD
Marquel Blackwell (RB) — $487,500 (average)
Travian Robertson (DL) — $400,000
Lonnie Teasley (OL) — $410,000
This story was originally published February 15, 2024 at 9:17 AM.
