Shane Beamer’s Untold Oklahoma Stories: The Moments That Shaped a Coach’s Journey to South Carolina

He left after his three seasons with the Sooners, as South Carolina needed a head coach after firing Will Muschamp during the 2020 season. Beamer has taken the Gamecocks to three bowls in his four seasons and most recently finished with his best year yet as South Carolina finished 9-4 and beat Clemson in the regular season finale.

Expectations are even higher this year as the Gamecocks found themselves ranked No. 13 in the first USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll released earlier this week. Oklahoma, incidentally, checked in a de facto 26th, picking up the most points for the Top 25 without achieving a ranking.Shane Beamer’s genes helped get his foot in the door as a college football coach. His time at Oklahoma, though, set him up for his first head-coaching job.Shane Beamer’s path to becoming a prominent college football head coach is a tale woven from both legacy and opportunity. While his family name opened early doors, it was his defining tenure at Oklahoma that truly carved the way for his rise to the top spot at South Carolina. Now approaching his fifth year leading the Gamecocks, Beamer recently reflected on the profound impact his stint with the Sooners — from 2018 to 2020 as assistant head coach and tight ends coach — had on shaping his coaching philosophy and ambitions. Driving past storied Heisman trophies and the weight of unforgettable championships each day at Oklahoma left an indelible mark on him — a mix of awe and inspiration that fueled his next chapter. Since taking over for Will Muschamp amid 2020’s turbulence, Beamer has steadily transformed South Carolina, racking up three bowl appearances and delivering a breakout 9-4 season capped by a victory over Clemson. Expectations are soaring higher than ever, with the Gamecocks now ranked No. 13 in the early USA TODAY Coaches Poll — a sign they’re no longer just contenders but serious challengers. With a scheduled faceoff against his former Oklahoma squad later this fall, Shane’s story continues to unfold in ways as compelling as his journey there. LEARN MORE

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Beamer, entering his fifth year running the program at South Carolina, joined the “Dari Nowkhah Show” on KREF in Norman this week and spoke about his time with the Sooners. Beamer served as OU’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach from 2018-2020.

“We loved our time out there. We really did,” Beamer said. “I took that job sight unseen when Lincoln called me. The only time I had ever been in the state of Oklahoma was in 1991. I was a freshman in high school, and Virginia Tech came out there and played Oklahoma. I didn’t step foot in Norman, Oklahoma again until I literally arrived until I literally arrived to take the job.”Beamer’s current school will play his former on October 18 at South Carolina.

“Just so cool to be a part of a program that has so much tradition,” Beamer said. “To be able to come into that building each day and drive past all those Heisman Trophy statues and see all the conference championships, it was a really cool experience for me.”