Shawn Elliott, the head coach of Georgia State, resigned during the Panthers’ spring practice, which many outsiders did not view as a step forward. The timing of his resignation was odd, and it became even more peculiar when it was revealed that he was not taking a better head coaching job, an offensive coordinator job, or even a head coaching job. Instead, he was heading back to the University of South Carolina to become the Gamecocks’ tight ends coach and run-game coordinator, replacing Justin Stepp, who left to become the wide receivers coach at Illinois. Elliott’s hire was made official on Friday, and he expressed his difficulty in leaving the Georgia State football program. The South Carolina board of trustees’ governance committee approved a three-year contract for Elliott that will pay him $750,000 annually for the first two years and $775,000 in year three, aiding his buyout and paying $150,000 to Georgia State. If he leaves South Carolina before the end of the year, he would owe the university $500,000, which decreases to $400,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2026. If USC fires him without cause, the school would owe him what’s left on his contract, which can be reduced if he’s hired elsewhere.
Elliott has become the third FBS head coach to resign this offseason and take on a role as a coordinator or position coach elsewhere. However, Elliott has strong ties to South Carolina, having been an assistant coach at USC from 2010-2016 and even serving as interim head coach when Steve Spurrier resigned in 2015. Despite working in Atlanta for seven years, Elliott’s family remained in Columbia, and he split his time between the two places to balance work and family. His hiring finalizes South Carolina’s 2024 coaching staff, with four new assistants joining the team. The Gamecocks will begin spring practice on March 19, with their spring game scheduled for April 20. The team’s assistant coaches, including Elliott, will earn salaries ranging from $400,000 to $1.2 million.
