Gamecocks’ New AD Jeremiah Dontai Wastes No Time, Backs Shane Beamer with Major Extension
Jeremiah Dontai is making an immediate impact as the University of South Carolina’s new athletic director, and his latest move proves he’s fully backing head coach Shane Beamer.
Just a month into his tenure, Dontai has already locked in Beamer with a contract extension through 2030, a deal that starts at $8.15 million per year. His decision was fueled by the passion, leadership, and vision Beamer has shown for the Gamecock football program.
On Wednesday, Dontai joined Jay Phillips and Elijah Campbell on The Postgame Show on 107.5 The Game, where he shared his admiration for Beamer.
“Shane… I mean, just what he’s done, and all you [have to do] is look at recruiting [and] the trajectory,” Dontai said. “One of the things that really impressed me about him [was] when I spent some time with him early. And this is before the contract was officially extended. I spent some time with him talking about ‘what did you learn from the 5-7 year last year?’”
Beamer’s response and ability to reflect on the challenges of the previous season solidified Dontai’s belief that he was the right man to lead South Carolina forward. The coach’s commitment to building both a championship program and shaping the lives of his players stood out.
“If you’ve been over to the football operations building, [you’ll see] they’ve got, kind of all these mantras and sayings and words. It’s really cool,” Dontai added. “And he [Beamer] said, ‘we found in talking to some of our guys, that those were just words—that we had lost, kind of that core culture. So we’ve got back to basics, whether you’re the first-string quarterback or the fifth-string punter—we don’t have five punters—but we wanted to make sure that you understood what it means, what it meant to be part of the Gamecock football program.’”
With Dontai’s full backing, Beamer is now positioned to take South Carolina football to the next level, ensuring the Gamecocks remain a force in the SEC for years to come.
