South Carolina Football: Legendary coach passes away
By Kevin Miller
It was a sad day on Thursday as long-time South Carolina football assistant coach Brad Lawing passed away. Lawing is a legend at the University of South Carolina as he coached for 17 year in Columbia over two different stints at the school as the defensive line coach. The news was announced by Lawing’s brother-in-law Wayne Parris via Parris’ Twitter account.
My brother-in-law, Brad Lawing, passed away this morning. He sure loved all of his family, friends, players and his coaching family. Please pray for our family.
— Wayne J. Parris, CPA (@parway14) June 15, 2023
Lawing was 65 years old at the time of his passing.
From 1989-1998, Lawing coached at South Carolina under coaches Sparky Woods and Brad Scott. Lawing coached future NFL players like John Abraham, Corey Miller, Gerald Dixon, and Henry Taylor.
In his second stint with the Gamecocks (2006-2012), Lawing coached with Steve Spurrier. The defensive line guru helped put several Gamecock defensive linemen into the League in his second tour of duty, as well, as he coached players like Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram, Travian Robertson, Kelcy Quarles, Devin Taylor, Cliff Matthews, Eric Norwood, and Clifton Geathers.
Lawing was also a tremendous recruiter. In addition to his defensive linemen, Lawing also helped convince Gamecock greats like Marcus Lattimore, DJ Swearinger, and Dylan Thompson to come to the University of South Carolina.
Lawing’s legacy will live on within the South Carolina football program as Travian Robertson (who played for Lawing from 2007-2011) is now the new defensive line coach for the Gamecocks. Lawing once called Robertson “the hardest-working player” he ever coached. Robertson also spoke highly of his former coach, saying that “he poured his all into us.”
While at South Carolina, Lawing was nominated for the Broyles award given annually to college football’s top assistant coach.
Lawing was well-respected in the coaching industry as he coached under the legendary Steve Spurrier (South Carolina), Nick Saban (Michigan State), and Mack Brown (Appalachian State).
In his playing career, Lawing was a linebacker at Lenoir-Rhyne University where he was enshrined into their football Hall of Fame in 2015.
