As we're just days away from the start of fall camp for the South Carolina Gamecocks football team, they added a coach to their staff. It was announced on Sunday afternoon (July 27) that they hired Geoff Collins to Shane Beamer's staff as a defensive analyst. What does it mean for Beamer and the Gamecocks to add the former defensive coordinator of the UNC Tar Heels, and the head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets?
Collins spent the 2024 season with the Tar Heels as the defensive coordinator for Mack Brown's team. Before that, he was the head coach of the Yellow Jackets from 2019-22, where he had a 10-28 record. In six seasons as a head coach, Collins went 25-38 with the Yellow Jackets and the Temple Owls (2017-18). Collins has been a coach for 28 years, where he was a defensive coordinator for 12 years, six of those years within the SEC. While at UNC, his team recorded 41 sacks in 2024, which was the sixth best in the nation.
Collins is known as a solid recruiter as he gave the Yellow Jackets their most recent Top 25 class during 2020, the first time since 2007. It was also the second time in program history to hit that mark. During his time with Georgia Tech, Collins recruited 34 four- or five-stars. During his two seasons with Temple, he had 15 wins and let them to two bowl games. The 2017 Gasparilla Bowl was the Owls' third bowl win in team history.
Welcome home, @CoachCollins! pic.twitter.com/GMcMxVdRfY
— South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB) July 27, 2025
Before being the head coach at Temple and Georgia Teach, he was a well-respected defensive coordinator. He was a defensive coordinator with the Florida Gators (2015-2016), Mississippi State Bulldogs (2011-12 co-DC, and 2013-14), Florida International Golden Panthers (2010), and the Western Carolina Catamounts (2002-2005). He will bring some knowledge and insight into the defensive room for the Gamecocks in 2025, which is a huge win for the program.
Adding a coach with a well-respected background, epsecially on the defense, is a boost that Beamer will appreciate having on hsi staff. Furthermore, Collins has proven to get players drafted to the NFL, more than three dozen in his career. Furthermore, he had six players at Georgia Tech get drafted to the NFL in his four seasons as the head coach. He is a proven recruiter and coach who will brings loads of talent to a Gamecocks defense who looks poised to be a Top 20 defense in college football.
Even with them only bringing back just a tad under 50% of their starters back, the defense, with Collins bringing his knowledge to an already great staff, don't be surprised if the Gamecocks come out flying in 2025. Overall, a great addition to Beamer's staff, plus it'll be interesting to hear Beamer and Collins' thoughts on what they expect from the defense this upcoming season.