Toughest part for Dowell Loggains leaving USC? The phone call to LaNorris Sellers
It was a phone call Dowell Loggains dread to make.
Shortly after accepting the job to be the new Appalachian State football coach, the former South Carolina offensive coordinator knew he had to contact Gamecocks starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers with the news.
“I told them in the interview process, the hardest thing I would have to do when I leave South Carolina is call LaNorris Sellers,” Loggains said Monday. “We deeply value relationships.”
Loggains discussed that moment as he was introduced as the Mountaineers’ new football coach at a press conference in Boone, North Carolina. He talked about the relationship he built with Sellers the past two seasons as the QB became a rising star in the Southeastern Conference.
Loggains was hired at USC in December 2022, 10 days before signing day. The process began to try and get Sellers to flip his college commitment from Syracuse to South Carolina. At that point, the Gamecocks hadn’t even offered a scholarship to Sellers, a Mr. Football finalist as one of the best players in-state.
“You’ve got 10 days and he has never met you, never talked to you a day in his life,” Loggains said. “You have to tell him about your offense and building a relationship.”
Loggains and the Gamecocks’ staff put the full-court press on Sellers after that moment.
He stood on the sidelines and watched Sellers lead South Florence to a state championship and didn’t leave until Sellers finished taking photos with friends and families.
A short time later, Sellers committed and then signed with the Gamecocks. After redshirting as a freshman, he emerged as a star for the Gamecocks in 2024.
Sellers helped USC to a six-game winning streak to close the season and engineered game-winning drives in two of the final three games against Missouri and Clemson.
“There would be few places I would have left South Carolina and LaNorris Sellers for,” Loggains said. “This was one because of the tradition of winning, the chancellor, the vision of the chancellor, the board and (athletics director) Doug Gillens have. So the phone conversation was really hard between us. The success we had this year, I am so proud of this young man. He is going to be really good. We are going to continue to stay close. I will watch him on his journey and he knows I will always be in his corner.”
The loss of Loggains creates a void on Gamecocks’ staff as they begin to prepare for the Citrus Bowl against Illinois. USC coach Shane Beamer said Sunday there is a chance Loggains could call plays in the game, but the subject wasn’t brought up during Monday’s press conference.
“We don’t have to decide anything right now,” Beamer said. “We’ll see how he handles his transition. I want to do what’s best for him and what’s best for our program. Those are all things we’re working through. Our initial conversations were to finish this thing out.”
