After South Carolina fell to Texas A&M on Saturday, Shane Beamer’s future appears to be in jeopardy. The Gamecocks now hold a 3-7 record with just one win in SEC play, sitting only ahead of Arkansas in the standings.
The possibility of the program parting ways with Beamer continues to grow. After leading the Gamecocks to the edge of the playoffs last season, the 2025 season has been nothing to write home about.
Here’s a look at three potential replacements for Shane Beamer at South Carolina
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Top three Shane Beamer replacement candidates at South Carolina
#1, Brent Key, head coach, Georgia Tech
After what has been an astonishing season for Georgia Tech in 2025, Brent Key is expected to be among the top candidates for several coaching jobs at the end of the season. The Yellow Jackets currently boast a 9-11 record, with their sight on the College Football Playoff.
Key became the interim head coach of Georgia Tech halfway through the 2022 season and was given the job full-time at the conclusion of the year. He inherited a struggling program under Geoff Collins and transformed it into a team that has recorded three straight winning seasons.
Should Shane Beamer be shown the exit door, Brent Key will be strongly considered to take charge of the Gamecocks in 2026.
#2, Alex Golesh, head coach, USF
Alex Golesh is another coach who has made a notable transformation in his current job. The coach took over at USF in 2023, inheriting a team that won just four games in three seasons. However, he has gone on to lead the Bulls to three consecutive winning seasons.
Golesh is currently on his best run at USF, boasting a 7-3 record. The program was believed to be in the chase for the College Football Playoff this season following the upset against Florida. While results have dwindled, it doesn’t take away much from Golesh’s perceived ability.
Without a doubt, Alex Golesh would be a candidate for the South Carolina job if the program decides to part ways with Shane Beamer.
#3, Collin Klein, offensive coordinator, Texas A&M
Collin Klein is one of the assistant coaches in college football, touted to take a head coaching role soon. The Texas A&M offensive coordinator has been brilliant in the last two seasons after joining Mike Elko in College Station following his time in different roles at Kansas State.
After what has been an outstanding season for the Aggies in 2025, Klein is expected to be considered as a candidate for a head coaching role at the end of the season. He orchestrated an offense that has helped the team remain undefeated in 10 games this season.
With his experience in the SEC over the last two years, Klein will be a good candidate to take over from Shane Beamer if he’s fired.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf
