‘We’re behind him 100 percent’: Gamecocks AD expresses confidence in Shane Beamer
Jeremiah Donati’s first football season as South Carolina’s athletic director has not gone exactly to plan.
The Gamecocks, which came into the season with playoff hopes, are 3-4 and just 1-4 in the SEC — and in danger of missing out entirely on a bowl game.
In the midst of this season, South Carolina fired offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley. Then a report circulated that linked Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer to the lead job at his alma mater, Virginia Tech. Beamer denied any interest in the job, especially shooting down the thought that he’d use the Virginia Tech gig as a “soft landing” spot to reset his coaching clock.
On Friday, Donati gave an athletics update to the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees. Afterward, he was asked by The State if he still had full confidence that Beamer would remain the coach at USC beyond the 2025 season.
“All he has told me is this is his dream job and he wants to be here,” Donati said. “I take people at face value until given a reason to not. I don’t have any reason to believe he’s leaving.”
Donati noted that he and Beamer have “an open line of communication” and referenced that Beamer called him at 4:18 a.m. on a Sunday a few weeks ago to get the OK to relieve Teasley of his duties.
“I think in our jobs, especially these days when things are so fluid, the best thing I can do is be a resource to him, to give him my time and my ear,” Donati said. “Sometimes it might be counsel or advice, but there are a lot of things that go into running a football program.”
Beamer this week said he feels very supported by both Donati and Jeff Crane, USC’s deputy athletic director also serves as the sport administrator for football.
While it was Ray Tanner, not Donati, who hired Beamer, it should be noted that one of Donati’s first major decisions as South Carolina’s AD was handing Beamer an extension worth over $8 million annually.
Despite the disappointing 3-4 start to this season, Donati still has faith in Beamer. His message to the Gamecocks’ head football coach this season?
“Just stay positive, keep doing what he’s doing,” Donati said. “Shane’s a tremendous coach. Even our highest-paid employees need encouragement. This is a big job.”
“We’re behind him 100 percent, and that’s just been my message to him,” Donati continued. “’Keep fighting the good fight every day.’ He’s a tremendous leader of young men. He’s got a great message, great energy. And we need that.”
South Carolina will host No. 4 Alabama at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
This story was originally published October 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM.
