Ex-Georgia State head coach Elliott hired by South Carolina as tight ends coach

February 15th, 2024

Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott walks the sideline in the second half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Boise, Idaho. Georgia State abruptly postponed spring football practice on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, after Shawn Elliott became the latest head coach to accept an assistant's job at another school. Elliott is headed to South Carolina as tight ends coach, pending the expected approval from the university’s board of trustees at a Friday morning meeting. (AP Photo/Steve Conner, File)

Updated on 2/16/24 at 12:50 p.m.

South Carolina’s board of trustees on Friday approved a three-year contract for ex-Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott to coach tight ends for the Gamecocks.

Elliott’s deal runs through Dec. 31, 2026. He will also be run game coordinator, a title he held while was an assistant coach at South Carolina for Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp.

Elliott will earn $750,000 for his first two seasons and $775,000 for his third year. South Carolina will also pay Georgia State $150,000 on Elliott’s behalf as part of his buyout with his old school.

The position became available when South Carolina assistant Justin Stepp left to become wide receivers coach at Illinois earlier this month.

It’s the fourth new assistant since the season ended for Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer. Special teams coordinator Pete Lembo left to become Buffalo’s head coach and Jody Wright took over as Murray State head coach. Running backs coach Montario Hardesty was not retained.

Elliott spent seven seasons coaching the offensive line at South Carolina from 2010-16. He was also the Gamecocks interim head coach in 2015 when Spurrier stepped down in midseason.

Elliott went to Georgia State in 2017, going 41-44. He led the Panthers to five bowl games and won four of them.