The South Carolina Gamecocks lost to the Duke Blue Devils in the Regional round of the NCAA Tournament two weeks ago, marking another year with a Super Regional for the South Carolina softball program. The failure to advance for head coach Bev Smith and her team continued the Gamecocks' drought that has been in place since 2018.
In fact, the 2018 Super Regional is Carolina's only one since 2007, and that proved to be Smith's undoing as it was announced by the University of South Carolina on Saturday that the Gamecocks were parting ways with the 14-year veteran coach. Smith will be owed a small buyout since she was under contract through next season.
During Smith's time in Columbia, she posted a 461-323 overall record and a 102-219 mark in SEC play. She led 4 non-winning seasons and 13 non-winning SEC records during her 14 seasons in garnet and black.
Despite the less-than-stellar record, Smith trails only her predecessor Joyce Compton in wins. Compton won over 950 games in her 24 seasons. She also made the Women's College World Series, won an SEC regular season title, and multiple SEC Tournaments. Smith never was able to accomplish any of those feats.
The move continues the theme of coaching turnover within spring sports as South Carolina baseball coach Mark Kingston was fired this week, Gamecock golf coach Bill McDonald is no longer leading the program, and USC equestrian coach Boo Major retired. All four coaches had been with the South Carolina Gamecocks for a while as Kingston (7 years), Smith (14 years), McDonald (18 years), and Major (25 years) combined to coach 64 years in garnet and black.
South Carolina softball star Alana Vawter, one of just two All-Americans during the Smith tenure in Columbia, recently signed a professional contract with the Florida Vibe.