Coach Doty? What's next for Luke Doty after six-season journey at South Carolina ends

The day is nearly here. After South Carolina’s final game of the season against Clemson on Saturday, Luke Doty’s college football career will be over.

It’s been an interesting journey for Doty, who’s wrapping up his sixth season as a player, dating back to when his career began in 2020. He’s been through a lot, including a coaching change after his freshman year, multiple position changes, injuries, and starting a handful of games as an SEC quarterback.

In between all that, Doty has also taken advantage of his time in school, earning a pair of degrees from South Carolina. He first graduated in December 2023 with a degree in psychology. In May, he earned his Master’s degree in coaching education with an emphasis on mental performance. It’s unlikely that his playing days will continue after college, which is why he’s gearing up for the next phase of his life.

Doty has expressed an interest in getting into coaching. He didn’t specify which level of football he’d like to coach, or what his exact plans are going to be, but it’s something that he has always had a passion for.

“That’s something I definitely am looking to get into,” he said. “Again, trying to take it day by day and prepare for the game on Saturday, and then just kind of see what happens after that. But that’s definitely something that I’m looking into, something I’m getting prepared for as well. So, yeah, I mean, I think that’d be something that, obviously, I’ve always really been passionate about. I got my degree in it, so, yeah, it’s something that I really love, and it’s something that I enjoy doing.”

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Could there be an opportunity for him to begin that path with the Gamecocks? It’s entirely possible, given that head coach Shane Beamer, who’s coached Doty for the last five years, would be open to it.

“I think he’d be awesome in coaching,” Beamer said. “So we haven’t he and I haven’t had that conversation. But yeah, if he was interested in getting him coaching and he wanted to continue to try and stay around here, sign me up.”

During his earlier seasons in Columbia, Doty saw a lot more action at quarterback, starting in six games from 2020-21. His snaps under center have been a lot more limited over the last four years, mainly due to Spencer Rattler and LaNorris Sellers being the primary starters for two seasons each. Doty became more of a wide receiver and special teams player because of this, as his time as a quarterback dwindled.

He returned to playing quarterback full-time this year, serving as Sellers’ backup and seeing action in six games so far. But when he’s not on the field, he’s learned to embrace the role of a coach, serving as a mentor for his teammates.

“I’m running up and down the sideline, trying to get guys in the right place, maybe coach them up on some things, some stuff that we’re hearing in the box, whatever it might be,” Doty said. “But just trying to keep everybody engaged is something that I’ve tried to take upon myself this year, not only as the backup, but making sure that everybody else is prepared and confident when they go into the game.”

Beamer has even gone to Doty for his thoughts since he’s been around the program for a long time and understands the game as well as he does.

“Luke is like, Mr. Gamecock. … He’s done a great job with LaNorris throughout the season, helping him,” Beamer said. “I lean on him a lot for just stuff. If there’s things I’ve got a feeling about within the team, like, I’ll pick the phone up and call him and be like, ‘Hey, man, what’s the deal? Like, talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.'”

Whether it’s here at South Carolina or elsewhere, Doty’s solidified future will be a conversation he has for another day. For now, his focus remains on this last game and finishing the right way. That’s a lesson he’s taken from his parents in staying with the Gamecocks for the last six seasons.

“My dad told me that the first year that I played football was, ‘Hey, it’s okay if you don’t like it, but you know, if you’re going to start this thing, you’re going to finish it,” Doty said. “I think that’s something that I’ve carried with me throughout my career. No matter what you start, you finish.”

As he looks back, Doty has never had any regrets about how things have gone. He likely could’ve explored opportunities at other schools, but it was always South Carolina for him. And that’s how he’ll finish his college career on Saturday — donning the garnet and black one last time.

“I never had any doubt that this wasn’t the place that I was supposed to be. I always believed that this is where I’m meant to be and where I’m meant to finish my career,” he said. “I was able to get two degrees out of it. Played a lot of ball, seen a lot of things, the highs, the lows, the coaching changes, all of it. I mean, it’s crazy when I look back, and I think about it. It’s just a very surreal thing. But again, I wouldn’t change it. Wouldn’t change it for anything.”

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