What has led to Lamont Paris' coaching success from longtime assistant Tanner Bronson's perspective

Continuity. That’s what works for head coach Lamont Paris.

Other than having to hire one new assistant to his coaching staff this summer, he’s been able to keep the band together since the day he arrived at South Carolina.

While Will Bailey enters his first season as an assistant on Paris’ staff, it’s his second stint with the Gamecocks after working under former head coach Frank Martin for two years. Other assistants Eddie Shannon and David McKinley have been with Paris since the beginning in Columbia, even spending time on his staff at Chattanooga before that.

Then there’s Paris’ last assistant Tanner Bronson, who has been with him since day one of his head coaching career. Bronson, entering his seventh year working alongside Paris, knows just how important it is to have that consistency.

“I think what happens is you end up getting some things that you feel comfortable with, right? Like some of the teaching points, what we’re looking for in recruiting and things like that,” Bronson told GamecockCentral. “And so when you have that continuity, which we’ve had with most of our guys being together for quite a while, it allows you to kind of move faster on certain things and things move a little bit smoother than maybe they wouldn’t if you got a whole new staff and you’re trying to get all different personalties and everything together.”

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Bronson was a part of Paris’ original coaching staff at Chattanooga starting in 2017. While there, they helped the Mocs get back to the NCAA Tournament in 2022. Once Paris got the job at South Carolina, Bronson followed and the rest is history.

But even before then, Bronson and Paris had a connection going back to Bronson’s playing days. He spent his college career playing at Wisconsin for Bo Ryan from 2004-08. Coincidentally, Paris worked under Ryan in Madison from 2010-17.

“I think I understand what coach’s vision is and how I can help him implement that vision,” Bronson said. “And so having been with him for five years at Chattanooga and knowing what we’re looking to do here, I think that’s been a big help kind of keeping the continuity of the staff.”

Being around Paris for as long as he has, Bronson understands what works for Paris and what doesn’t. He’s seen firsthand how the third-year head coach has been able to come in and turn around the programs he’s been at. He took Chattanooga from 10-23 in year one to 27-8 by year five.

Then at South Carolina, Paris brought the Gamecocks back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 last year. Bronson said Paris stays true to himself, which he believes has helped shape his coaching career for the better.

“He knows the type of player, he knows the type of system and what can work. And also, what to stay away from,” Bronson said. “I mean, there’s a lot of guys, for instance, when you go recruiting, there’s a lot of talented players out there. They might not fit what we’re trying to do. They might not be able to create the spacing on the floor that we want. And so that I think that’s who he is. He is so convicted in his approach to it. I think that makes him extremely successful.”

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As Paris and Bronson head into their third year on staff together at South Carolina, the expectations are going to be much higher than they’ve ever been before. Many are hopeful to see the Gamecocks return to March Madness for a second straight year. And that journey will start against Paris’ alma mater, Wooster, in an exhibition game on Wednesday (7 p.m.).

Paris will enter the first year of a brand-new six year contract with the Gamecocks that came back in March after winning 26 games in his second season. Because of the way Paris’ understanding of the game, Bronson believes that’s what has helped him be successful.

“He knows what wins basketball games. He knows a lot of the little things it takes,” Bronson said. “He’s unwavering. He’s not going to compromise those things. And so I think that’s something that he’s very good at. He’s very convicted in himself and that’s why I think we’ve been able to have some success last year and hopefully we continue that this year.”

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