Shane Beamer could get into mix for South Carolina job

Shane Beamer’s life has been interesting of late.

The Virginia Tech associate head coach is processing the impending retirement of his father, legendary Hokies head coach Frank Beamer, while also wondering what his next job will be. It’s a possibility it could be back at South Carolina, where he was an assistant coach under Steve Spurrier from 2007-2010.

Soon after Spurrier announced his resignation on Oct. 13, Beamer was contacted by representatives of the Gamecocks to gauge potential interest in the position, according to a person with knowledge of the contact.

Beamer spoke highly of South Carolina when contacted by The State but declined to speak directly about the job opening.

“It’s very flattering to have your name mentioned,” Beamer said. “South Carolina is a special place to my family and I. My wife and I loved our four years in Columbia. I’ve never stopped following South Carolina athletics that’s for sure.”

Beamer also has been listed as a possible replacement for his father at Virginia Tech, where he has coached since leaving South Carolina’s staff to join his father in the 2011 season.

“I’d be lying to you if I sat here and said that I wouldn’t want the (Virginia Tech) job,” he told the Roanoke (Va.) Times this week.

Beamer, 38, served as the Hokies interim head coach last December, including during the Military Bowl. Virginia Tech is Beamer’s fifth coaching stop. He served as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech and Tennessee before getting his first full-time job as recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Mississippi State in 2004.

Beamer’s multiple stops along the coaching trail make him confident he could bring an impressive staff of assistants along with him anywhere he does land a head coaching job.

He joined Spurrier’s staff as cornerbacks and spurs coach in 2007 and then added special teams and recruiting coordinator to his duties in 2009 and 2010. The Gamecocks signed Jadeveon Clowney, Marcus Lattimore, A.J. Cann, Connor Shaw, Brandon Shell, Mike Matulis and Brandon Wilds among others during Beamer’s time as recruiting coordinator.

Beamer announced his departure from South Carolina on Feb. 14, 2011, hours after Jadeveon Clowney had signed his letter of intent with the Gamecocks.

Columbia “is a special town, a special university, special people. It wasn’t an easy decision. It’s extremely hard to leave here,” he said at the time. “Nobody ever leaves (Frank Beamer’s) staff at Virginia Tech. I didn’t know if there would be another opening, and I didn’t want to look back 20 years from now and say, ‘I wish I had coached with him when I had the opportunity.’ ”

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Shane Beamer could get into mix for South Carolina job."