OPINION: Potential Candidates For South Carolina's Special Teams Coordinator Position
Yesterday morning, the South Carolina Gamecocks' coaching staff took a massive hit as special teams coordinator Pete Lembo took the head coaching job with the Buffalo Bulls. Considering the impact Lembo's units have made in Columbia over the past three seasons, this is an important hire for head coach Shane Beamer.
The good news for Gamecock fans is that Beamer's emphasis on special teams and Pete's immense success have made the job at South Carolina an attractive one. So, who could potentially be the new special teams coordinator for Carolina?
Scott Fountain
Scott Fountain walks around the field during warmups before the 2018 CFP National Championship Game against Alabama (8th Jan., 2018)
Matthew Emmons | USA Today Network
Current Position & School (2020-Present): Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at Arkansas
Years Of Coaching Experience: 37 (Includes 18 at the Power 4 level)
Notable Previous Stops
- 2019: Georgia's Special Teams Coordinator
- 2018: Mississippi State's Special Teams Coordinator
- 2013-16: Auburn's Tight Ends Coach and Special Teams Coordinator
Connections
- Coached alongside South Carolina's current offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains, at Arkansas in 2021 and 2022
- Coached alongside the Gamecocks' new WR's coach James Coley at Georgia in both 2017 and 2019
- Coached alongside Shane Beamer at Georgia in 2017, serving as the Bulldogs' Special Teams analyst while Beamer was the Special Teams Coordinator
Stanton Weber
Stanton Weber serving as a player representative for his alma mater, the Kansas State Wildcats, at Big 12 Media Days in 2015 (20th Jul., 2015)
Kevin Jairaj | USA Today Network
Current Position & School (2023-Present): Special Teams Coordinator at Toledo
Years Of Coaching Experience: 7
Notable Previous Stops
- 2017-20: Kansas State
- 17-18: Graduate Assistant
- 19-20: Special Teams Quality Control Coach
Connections
- Served as South Carolina's special teams analyst under former special teams coordinator Pete Lembo in 2021 and 2022
Erik Link
Current Position & School (2020-Present): Tight Ends Coach (from 2022 onward) & Special Teams Coordinator at Missouri
Years Of Coaching Experience: 20 (Includes 10 years at the Power 4 level)
Notable Previous Stops
- 2019: Appalachian State's Special Teams Coordinator
- 2018: Louisiana Tech's Special Teams Coordinator
- 2013-15: Auburn (role unknown)
Connections: None
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