Shane Beamer Snubbed from ESPN’s Top 30 Head Coaches, But the Numbers Tell a Different Story
On July 15, ESPN released its ranking of the Top 30 active FBS head coaches, dividing them into two categories: those with 1–3 years of experience and those with four years or more. While some names were expected, others—especially at the bottom—raised eyebrows. One name completely left off the list? South Carolina’s Shane Beamer.
Beamer, who has led the Gamecocks to a 29-22 record across four seasons, is fresh off a 9-win campaign in 2024 that included wins over both Missouri (Mayor’s Cup) and in-state rival Clemson (Palmetto Bowl). He also led South Carolina to five SEC wins that season, but apparently, that wasn’t enough to make ESPN’s cut.
What’s even more puzzling is who did make the list. Take Greg Schiano, for example. The Rutgers head coach landed at No. 21 despite a 94-101 overall record (.482 win percentage) and just a 26-34 mark since returning to Rutgers in 2020. His 16-29 conference record in the Big Ten makes it tough to justify his spot above Beamer.
Then there’s Matt Rhule of Nebraska. Rhule has a 59-56 career FBS record (.513 win%) with Temple, Baylor, and now the Cornhuskers. Since arriving at Nebraska, he’s just 12-13, following a 19-20 stint at Baylor. Despite that, he still managed to sneak in at No. 30 on ESPN’s list.
Another comparison is Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, who ranks 23rd. Stoops has a 77-73 career record (.513) over 12 seasons, and has gone 7-6, 7-6, and 4-8 in his past three seasons. With Beamer outperforming that trajectory in just four years, many are questioning the credibility of the rankings.
While critics may point to Beamer’s 1-2 bowl record, the context tells a bigger story. Beamer has actually matched and exceeded expectations—his 29 wins through four seasons top Steve Spurrier’s record at the same point. Spurrier, South Carolina’s all-time winningest coach, had 28. Plus, Beamer’s turnaround from a 2-8 2020 campaign to a 7-6 debut season in 2021 was one of the biggest jumps in the country.
Beamer has gone 7-5, 8-5, 5-7, and 9-4 in his four years, good for a .569 win percentage. And now, with momentum building and a top-tier recruiting wave underway, many believe South Carolina is on the verge of a breakthrough in 2025.
“I don’t see how Beamer isn’t at least in the conversation,” one fan wrote, echoing the thoughts of many Gamecock faithful.
Even the SEC’s own coaching rankings put Beamer at No. 8—higher than where ESPN placed some of its more debatable selections.
As South Carolina prepares for another big step forward in 2025, the snub may just add more fuel to Beamer’s fire. One thing’s for sure: his impact on the program and what he’s building in Columbia are worthy of far more recognition.
