The Gamecocks have their new offensive coordinator.

Head coach Shane Beamer named former TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles as the Gamecocks' next OC. Briles will be the fourth offensive coordinator hired under Beamer since coming on after the 2020 season. 

Briles spent the past three seasons with the Horned Frogs, where his offenses averaged over 30 points per game each season. Their most productive year, the Horned Frogs finished 11th in the nation in total offense. 

"He's a proven power four offensive coordinator," Beamer said at Briles' introductory press conference. "This job is not for on-the-job training. When you talk about someone that has done it in this league and done it in other conferences at a high level, has done it with multiple personnel, different styles of quarterbacks. It's really impressive.”

Before taking the job at TCU, Briles spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas. His SEC experience played a factor in his hiring, and his connection with a former Gamecock gave him an impressive endorsement. 

Former South Carolina running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders played at Arkansas under Briles and offered his support when called. 

“I said, 'If I said the name Kendal Briles to you, what would you say?' He didn't hesitate, and he said, 'Get it done.'" Beamer said. “Knowing how I feel about Rocket and the kind of player he is and the person he is, that said a lot."

Briles' offense at Arkansas was also successful as he led the Razorbacks to massive improvements. The team went from averaging just over 21 points per game to 31 the next year. The team’s total offense improved by about 50 yards per game. 

Before arriving at Arkansas, Briles was the offensive coordinator at Florida State, Houston, Florida Atlantic and Baylor. 

“Just incredibly blessed and grateful to be here for the opportunity coach Beamer has given us to join and be just a small part of the incredible staff that he already has,” Briles said. “So very grateful to be back in the SEC. I know how big a deal that is, and we’re incredibly excited.”

Joining Briles on the offensive staff are two new position coaches. Stan Drayton will be the new running backs coach and Randy Clements will lead the offensive line. 

Drayton had 33 years of coaching experience, with 26 of those coming as a running backs coach. He has been on two national championship-winning staffs, coaching at Florida in 2006 and Ohio State in 2014. 

He has head coaching experience, leading the Temple Owls from 2022-24, and then joined the staff at Penn State until the end of this season. 

Some of Drayton’s other stops include Texas, Syracuse, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Bowling Green. Beamer and Drayton were on the same Mississippi State staff in 2004 under head coach Sylvester Croom.

He also has experience in the pros, coaching for the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. 

"I've worked with him. I know the kind of person he is. When I made the change at running back, there was one running backs coach that I thought of. There was one running backs coach that I called. There was one running backs coach that I offered a job to and no one else,” Beamer said.  “I know how we both feel about Sylvester Croom, but we only spent one year together. It was a powerful year for me to be able to learn. To see his work ethic. What he's about as a running back coach. What he's about as a person.”

Randy Clemonts is also an experienced coach with over three decades of commitment to the game. 

He arrives at South Carolina after spending one season as the offensive line coach at TCU with Briles. Clemonts has also coached at North Carolina, North Texas, Ole Miss, Florida State, Houston and Baylor.

Briles was a big part of Clemonts’ moving to South Carolina. Beamer was unfamiliar with the coach and considered Briles' request to add Clemonts while also reaching out to some of his other former employers. 

"All along, Kendal said there was one offensive line coach that he was interested in bringing," Beamer said. “ I called Mack Brown, who he worked for at the University of North Carolina most recently, and asked coach Brown about him. You guys know the respect I have for coach Brown, and the feedback he gave me on coach Clements was all I needed to hear."

After meeting with Clemonts for himself, Beamer decided he was the man for the job. 

"Proven, great leadership, great person, proven offensive line coach at the highest level. Done it in multiple conferences. Done a great job of recruiting and developing players," Beamer said. 

With the new hires officially confirmed, the Gamecocks will head into the offseason looking to revamp an offense that finished near the bottom of the conference in every measurable category. 

It will be a tall task, but the new faces have a proven record of making quick turnarounds. It just depends on what the Gamecocks can do in the next phase of the offseason, building through the transfer portal.