Shane Beamer explains how Frank Beamer impacted his coaching career

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. However, it doesn’t always have to stay in the shadow of its predecessor, either. Shane Beamer is learning this lesson while building his own legacy at South Carolina.

In May, the third-year South Carolina head coach sat down on “Next Up with Adam Breneman” to discuss his career. Inevitably, Beamer’s father came up in conversation. Frank Beamer, Shane’s father, is a legendary Virginia Tech football coach.

The legend’s lessons

Frank Beamer coached the Hokies for 29 years, winning Big East Coach of the Year three times and ACC Coach of the Year twice. From 1993 to 2015, Beamer led Virginia Tech to 23 consecutive bowl games, the second-longest streak in the nation at the time of his retirement.

Shane Beamer is thankful for his football heritage.

“It was the best thing for me. Obviously, growing up around a locker room and being around football my entire life was awesome and I was able to experience things that kids my age don’t get to,” Beamer said. “It was also good for me to sees the highs and lows of the profession and what a thin line it is between winning and losing.”

Shane Beamer’s football education

Shane Beamer has gotten to know that thin line intimately in his two years as the Gamecocks head coach. In Beamer’s first season with South Carolina, the program got embarassed by rival Clemson in a 30-point blowout.

Just 364 days later, the Gamecocks upset No. 7 Clemson 31-30 in Memorial Stadium. Beamer and Co. finished the season 8-5 with significant momentum heading into next season. This season. Beamer isn’t letting the success get to his head. He knows greatness takes time.

“It took [my father] until his seventh season at Virginia Tech to get to a bowl game,” Beamer said. “In today’s time, he would’ve been fired long before the seventh season.”

A close bond

Despite the countless lessons Beamer learned from his father, he’s still the first to admit he wasn’t fully prepared to be in his current position. Prior to becoming the South Carolina head coach, Beamer was an assistant coach at seven Football Bowl Subdivision schools for 21 seasons.

Now, Beamer is right where he belongs, and if on the off occassion he does need advice, he knows his dad is just a phone call away.

“[My father] still lives in Virginia with my mom. They’re at every home game and most of the away games,” Beamer said. “It’s a great resource to have. As a dad, as a former coach, now as a granddad, everything, he’s in a great role.”