If you are a fan of college football, you may have heard of the names Shane Beamer and Frank Beamer. Shane Beamer is the current head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, while Frank Beamer is a retired coach who led the Virginia Tech Hokies for 29 seasons. But are they related? And if so, how?
The answer is yes, Shane Beamer and Frank Beamer are related. They are father and son. Shane Beamer is the youngest of Frank Beamer’s three children, and he followed his father’s footsteps into the coaching profession.
How Shane Beamer Became a Coach
Shane Beamer was born on March 31, 1977, in Charleston, South Carolina, where his father was working as a defensive line coach for The Citadel. In 1987, Frank Beamer became the head coach of Virginia Tech, and the family moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. Shane attended Blacksburg High School, where he played football and baseball. He was a first-team all-state receiver and played in the 1995 Virginia high school all-star football game.
Shane decided to walk on as a wide receiver at Virginia Tech, where his father was still the head coach. He later switched to long snapper, and played in the 1999 season, when the Hokies reached the national championship game. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1999 with a degree in sociology.
Shane began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech in 2000. He then moved to Tennessee as a graduate assistant from 2001 to 2003. He got his first full-time coaching job at Mississippi State in 2004, where he coached cornerbacks and later running backs and recruiting coordinator. In 2007, he joined Steve Spurrier’s staff at South Carolina, where he coached outside linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, special teams and recruiting coordinator until 2010.
In 2011, Shane returned to Virginia Tech to work under his father as the associate head coach and running backs coach. He stayed there until 2015, when Frank retired after a legendary career that included 280 wins, seven conference titles and 23 consecutive bowl appearances.
Shane then joined Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator from 2016 to 2017. He helped the Bulldogs win the SEC title and reach the national championship game in 2017. He then moved to Oklahoma as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach from 2018 to 2020. He worked under Lincoln Riley and helped the Sooners win three Big 12 titles and reach three College Football Playoff semifinals.
In December 2020, Shane was hired as the head coach of South Carolina, returning to the place where he had spent four seasons as an assistant. He became the Gamecocks’ 36th head coach and the highest-paid coach in school history.
How Frank Beamer Influenced His Son
Frank Beamer was born on October 18, 1946, in Mount Airy, North Carolina. He grew up on a farm in Fancy Gap, Virginia. He was a direct descendant of the notorious Allen clan of Carroll County, Virginia, who were involved in a deadly courtroom shooting in 1912.
In 1953, when he was seven years old, Frank suffered a life-altering accident. A can of gasoline exploded in front of him, leaving him with severe burns on his face and chest. He underwent several surgeries and skin grafts to repair the damage.
Frank overcame his injuries and became a star athlete at Hillsville High School. He played football, basketball and baseball. He earned a scholarship to play football at Virginia Tech as a cornerback from 1966 to 1968.
Frank began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Maryland in 1972. He then coached at The Citadel from 1973 to 1978 as a defensive line coach and defensive coordinator. He moved to Murray State in 1979 as a defensive coordinator and became the head coach in 1981. He led the Racers to a 42-23-2 record and an Ohio Valley Conference title in six seasons.
In 1987, Frank was hired as the head coach of Virginia Tech, his alma mater. He inherited a program that had been struggling with losing records and NCAA sanctions. He turned it around with his trademark style of hard-nosed defense, special teams excellence and offensive efficiency.
Frank led the Hokies to unprecedented success for nearly three decades. He won seven conference titles (four ACC and three Big East), five division titles (four ACC Coastal and one Big East), reached six BCS bowls (including one national championship game) and made an NCAA-record 23 consecutive bowl appearances from 1993 to 2015.
Frank retired after the 2015 season with a record of 238-121-2 at Virginia Tech and an overall record of 280-143-4 as a head coach. He is the winningest coach in Virginia Tech history and the sixth-winningest coach in FBS history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Frank has been a major influence on his son Shane’s coaching career. He taught him the values of hard work, discipline, integrity and loyalty. He also gave him advice and support throughout his coaching journey. Shane has often credited his father for his success and expressed his admiration and gratitude for him.
Conclusion
Shane Beamer and Frank Beamer are related as father and son. They both have had remarkable careers as college football coaches, following their passion and making their mark on the sport. They share a strong bond of love and respect, as well as a legacy of excellence.
