Minnesota Vikings hire former South Carolina star, coach for assistant role

Chris Rumph – a longtime assistant football coach who’s worked at both the college and professional levels – is set to join the Minnesota Vikings’ staff as the team’s new defensive line coach, per On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Rumph, 50, most recently served as the Chicago Bears’ defensive line coach last season and was the Houston Texans’ outside linebackers coach in 2020. Prior to working for the Texans, Rumph spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Tennessee and was at Florida before that – working for the Gators from 2015-2017.

A St. Matthews, South Carolina native who played linebacker for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Rumph has also held jobs at Texas, Alabama, Clemson, Memphis, South Carolina State and South Carolina. He was the head coach at Calhoun County High School from 1997-2001.

Rumph joins a Minnesota Vikings team that is coming off an 8-9 season in 2021 and fired head coach Mike Zimmer following the disappointing campaign. The organization is expected to hire Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as their next head coach.

Former South Carolina linebacker joining Gamecocks staff

DeVonte Holloman – a former South Carolina and NFL linebacker – is expected to return to the Gamecocks’ program and join Shane Beamer’s staff in a support staff role, per On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Holloman, 30, had been the head coach at South Pointe High School in South Carolina – his alma mater – for the past three seasons before stepping down on Tuesday. He led his South Pointe team to the state championship last season.

A Charlotte, North Carolina native, Holloman was selected 185th overall in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played just two seasons from 2013-14 – making 26 total tackles, two sacks and recovering a fumble.

Holloman joins a South Carolina team that is coming off a 7-6 season in 2021, which included a 3-5 mark in SEC play.