“There’s a lot of things that I’ve learned from her (Staley).” These words came a few months back from Shane Beamer, the South Carolina football team’s head coach, reflecting a shared bond between the coaches of a good supportive friendship. Well, that friendship was on full display during the recent ring ceremony for the Gamecocks basketball team and this connection could very well inspire Beamer to lead the football team toward their first championship in 132 years.

During the Gamecocks women’s basketball team’s recent Ring Ceremony, head coach Dawn Staley took a moment to praise the college football team and coach Shane Beamer. “We really want to congratulate coach Beamer, his staff, and the fellas for taking us on an incredible ride that is not over yet,” she said.

Beamer, touched by the shoutout, responded on X, retweeting Staley’s message with a heartfelt note:, “THANK YOU @dawnstaley !!!! I’m grateful for your friendship And we’re working hard so @GamecockFB can have our own ring ceremony like you’re having tonight 🤙🏻”  That would be the first ever for the program in its history.

Shane Beamer became head coach in 2021, but his connection to South Carolina dates back to 2007 when he spent four years as an assistant coach. The son of legendary Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, he guided the 2021 Gamecocks to a 7–6 record, capped by a 38–21 victory over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. However, like previous coaches, he has also remained elusive of the championship in first three seasons.

In contrast, his close friend, Dawn Staley, has become a legendary figure at South Carolina, guiding the program to three NCAA Women’s Basketball titles, including last year’s championship. Well, throughout Beamer’s pursuit of a championship, Staley has consistently supported him, and their strong mutual friendship remains unwavering.

Dawn Staley’s unwavering support for Beamer

Dawn Staley’s support for Shane Beamer has been steadfast, and it was first evident during a challenging moment for him in 2022. When Beamer faced controversy after being caught yelling at female athletes to leave the field during a game, it didn’t take long for the South Carolina football coach to apologize. But what stood out was Staley’s quick response. Without hesitation, she took to social media to publicly support her friend.

The 3x champion head coach tweeted, “Hey @CoachSBeamer sorry I’ve been under a rock the last few days but we know you have done nothing but support our programs since the day you became @GamecockFB head coach! All hands on deck to get a win on Saturday!”  Well, Beamer has expressed his deep gratitude for Staley’s support, something he openly acknowledged back in July this year.

“[Staley] is fantastic, it’s great for me to be able to watch her coach, learn from her, go and watch her team practice… even last season early on I called her to talk about some things. Coaching is coaching, teaching is teaching … there’s a lot of things I’ve learned from her. She’s willing to do anything for our program,” Beamer had said.

The football coach also shared that Staley had even asked if he could assist with recruiting, and he was more than happy to offer his help. As they continue to inspire each other, Beamer’s championship dreams may soon be realized. The football team is currently 9-3 with a 6-game winning streak and is projected to have a better chance to make the playoffs.