Sources: Beamer agrees to take Gamecocks job

Beamer Ball is coming to South Carolina.

Shane Beamer, Oklahoma‘s assistant head coach for offense, has agreed to a deal to become the Gamecocks’ next head football coach, sources told ESPN late Saturday night.

A news conference to introduce Beamer is scheduled for Monday, sources said.

Beamer, who has worked at Oklahoma the past three seasons, was not available to coach during the Sooners’ 27-14 victory over Baylor on Saturday night in Norman. Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley said he hadn’t spoken to Beamer on Saturday but added, “If [the report] is true, certainly thrilled for him. Those are the opportunities that you don’t always get.”

Among the coaches Beamer plans to have on his staff is Connor Shaw, the Gamecocks’ all-time winningest quarterback. Shaw is currently South Carolina’s quarterbacks coach and was previously the director of player development.

Earlier Saturday, Louisville’s Scott Satterfield and Louisiana’s Billy Napier, who were also considered top candidates at South Carolina, announced they would remain at their current schools. Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell and Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson were also interviewed for the job.

Beamer, the son of Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer, emerged as a favorite shortly after South Carolina fired coach Will Muschamp on Nov. 15. He received strong support from some of South Carolina’s most prominent football alumni and met with Gamecocks officials two weeks ago. Beamer was an assistant on South Carolina’s staff under Steve Spurrier from 2007 to 2010.

In 2009 and 2010, Beamer was South Carolina’s recruiting coordinator when the Gamecocks assembled some of their best recruiting classes in school history, serving as a foundation for three consecutive 11-win seasons and three consecutive top-10 finishes in the final polls.

Running back Marcus Lattimore, the school’s all-time leader with 38 rushing touchdowns, was a member of that 2010 recruiting class along with Shaw.

“Coach Beamer is someone that leaves an impression on you with his love and enthusiasm for the game,” Lattimore told ESPN. “He makes you want to play for him. He’s smart and personable. He loves his family. That should tell you all you need to know about how I feel about him and this job.”

The Gamecocks’ 2009 signing class included cornerback Stephon Gilmore, receiver Alshon Jeffery and safety D.J. Swearinger, all of whom are still playing in the NFL.

Patrick DiMarco, a Pro Bowl fullback with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, played at South Carolina when Beamer was on the staff and highly endorsed the hire.

“I have full confidence that Shane will put together a heck of a staff that will light up the scoreboard and make Carolina exciting again,” DiMarco told ESPN. “Shane has ties to the state and the university and owned the state during his time at USC as the recruiting coordinator, helping bring in South Carolina recruits like Marcus…