June 22, 2023

Speakers Announced for Gamecock Sports Preview presented by Founders Federal Credit Union

The slate of head coaches and speakers for the 2023 Gamecock Sports Preview presented by Founders Federal Credit Union is coming into focus as we inch closer to another season of Carolina athletics. Emceed by Gamecock Great Connor Shaw ’14, the event serves as a kickoff to the upcoming academic year and what to look forward to during 2023-24.

This signature event is exclusive to members of the Alumni Association or the Gamecock Club—the 2022 edition brought together nearly 500 alumni and fans with tickets in high demand. This year’s dinner and program will take place at the Pastides Alumni Center on August 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The current confirmed speakers are as follows:

Shane Beamer | Head Coach, Gamecock Football

Shane Beamer, one of the rising stars among coaches in college football, has completed two seasons as the University of South Carolina’s head coach. He was named the Gamecocks’ 36th head football coach on Dec. 6, 2020. Beamer has had a successful first two seasons in Columbia matching Joe Morrison, Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp for the most wins by a head football coach in his first two seasons at Carolina (15-11).

Prior to his first head coaching stint, Beamer had been an assistant coach at seven Football Bowl Subdivision schools for 21 seasons. During his career as an assistant, he coached in 17 bowl games, including a College Football Playoff National Championship Game, posted 18 non-losing seasons, six of those with double-digit victories, and his teams won 63 percent of its games.

Read Coach Beamer’s full bio >

Ray Tanner | Athletics Director

University of South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner is in his 11th year guiding the Gamecocks’ athletics programs. After a long and highly successful career as Carolina’s baseball coach, Tanner officially began his new duties on Aug. 2, 2012. On March 17, 2023, Tanner was awarded a contract extension, keeping him in the AD’s chair until 2026.

Under Tanner’s watch, Gamecock student-athletes have achieved tremendous success in intercollegiate athletic competition, in the classroom and in the community.

Read Ray Tanner’s full bio >

Lamont Paris | Head Coach, Gamecock Men’s Basketball

Lamont Paris, who has been a part of nine NCAA Division I Tournaments and 17 twenty-win seasons as a college head and assistant coach, was named the University of South Carolina’s 33rd head coach by Director of Athletics Ray Tanner on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Paris, 47, is the first African-American head coach in the history of the Gamecock men’s basketball program.

Paris comes to Carolina after five seasons as the head coach at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, coaching the Mocs to an 87-72 overall record (.547), including a 65-29 mark the last three seasons. In his 17 seasons as a collegiate assistant coach, teams associated with Paris were 497-217 (.696) with five conference titles and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching two Final Fours.

Read Coach Paris’ full bio >

Mark Kingston | Head Coach, Gamecock Baseball

Mark Kingston was named the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina on June 30, 2017. He became the 30th head coach in the history of Gamecock Baseball. Kingston came to Carolina following a three-year stint as the head coach at USF. He owns a career mark of 453-310-1 in 14 seasons as a head coach, including five at Illinois State, with five NCAA Tournament appearances, including hosts in both 2021 and 2023.

Kingston has helped lead 14 teams to NCAA Tournament berths as an assistant and head coach — with six of those teams appearing in the NCAA Super Regionals, two participating in the College World Series and one winning a national championship. His 2023 team hosted and won the NCAA Columbia Regional, defeating Central Connecticut State, N.C. State and Campbell, and advanced to the Gainesville Super Regional. The Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 3 in the D1Baseball.com weekly polls, ended the 2023 season No. 8 in the RPI with a No. 3 strength of schedule.

Read Coach Kingston’s full bio >

Michael Amiridis | University President

Michael Amiridis became 30th president of the University of South Carolina on July 1, 2022. Before coming home to Carolina, he led the University of Illinois Chicago as its chancellor since 2015.

Prior to leading UIC, Amiridis spent more than two decades at our Columbia campus as a faculty member and administrator, serving from 2009 to 2015 as the university’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Read President Amiridis’ full bio >

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EMCEE

Connor Shaw ’14 | AVP and Insurance Advisor for HUB

Connor Shaw, University of South Carolina’s all-time winningest quarterback, serves as Assistant Vice President and Insurance Advisor for Hub International Limited (HUB). Prior to his role at HUB, he was Director of Football Relations for Gamecock Football. He returned to the Carolina football program in January of 2020 as Director of Player Development. In that role, he focused on the student-athlete’s career development, mental health, financial literacy and life skills, while leading the “Beyond Football” program.

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As more coaches and speakers confirm their attendance, they will be added to the Gamecock Sports Preview page. Registration is now open for Alumni Association and Gamecock Club members—if you are not a current member, you can join today to be eligible to attend.