Shane Beamer opens up on the relationship his family has with Nick Saban

Shane Beamer has been around head college football coaches ever since he was young, including the legendary Nick Saban. The South Carolina coach is the son of former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, who was honored with the Nick Saban Legacy Award this past year.

Saban, who coached Alabama from 2007-23, retired this offseason. He led the Crimson Tide to six national titles in that span to cement himself as one of the greatest coaches in the sport’s history.

Shane Beamer spoke on his relationship with Saban, as well as what it meant for his father to win the award, at the SEC Media Days on Monday.

“It was an immense honor for my dad to be honored with the Saban Award,” he said. “Obviously, any time you see your dad get honored with an award it’s pretty cool, but to be honored by Nick Saban was extra special just because of the immense amount of respect for coach Saban, but what I have for him as well.

“It was different walking into (an) SEC head coaching meeting for the first time back in Birmingham and him not being in that room because of what he’s meant to college football and how much respect I have for him. Now he’s one of you guys here at this event also. So that was a really cool night. Thanks to coach Saban and Terry for honoring my dad on that.”

Frank Beamer coached the Hokies from 1987-2015 and directed them to a 361-268 record in that span. He won seven conference titles in that span and is the winningest coach in program history.

Shane Beamer is preparing to enter his fourth season as the coach at South Carolina. He has led the Gamecock to a 20-18 record since then, including 1-1 in bowl games.

Since watching his father from a young age, Shane Beamer has been able to learn from countless coaches, Nick Saban among them. He also served as an assistant coach under Kirby Smart and Lincoln Riley.

All that experience points to a potentially successful long-term career as a head coach himself. He took over a Gamecocks program that was just 2-8 the year prior and has surpassed that win total every year since.

Beamer is simply waiting for that breakthrough that comes for most coaches, and it’s possible he can find it this season. South Carolina kicks off 2024 on Aug. 31 against Old Dominion.