New South Carolina OC expected to be formalized this week

The hire of Kendal Briles as South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator is expected to be formalized on Thursday, GamecockCentral.com has learned.

Briles, who is currently serving as TCU’s associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterback coach, will replace Mike Shula, who was dismissed following the Gamecocks’ loss to Ole Miss during this season.

The University of South Carolina has given notice for a Board of Trustees meeting to be held on Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. with multiple athletics personnel agreements on the agenda.

In addition to Briles, TCU’s Randy Clements and Penn State’s Stan Drayton are two additional expected hires to Shane Beamer’s offensive staff, according to sources.

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South Carolina’s offense struggled during the 2025 campaign, ranking 102nd in scoring offense, 105th in total offense, 118th in rushing offense, and 125th in third down conversion percentage.

Briles spent the past three seasons, including 2025, at TCU. He has also served as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas (2020-2022), Florida State (2019), Houston (2018), Florida Atlantic (2017), and Baylor (2015-2016). He was a former player at both Texas and Houston.

Beamer is tabbing a coach in Briles who has a track record in improving offenses after taking the helm.

At TCU, Briles’ first season saw an uptick in total offense from the previous season. In his first year at Arkansas, the Razorbacks improved dramatically in both yardage output and scoring. That was also the case at Florida State. From 2017 (without Briles) to 2018 (with Briles), Houston added about 15 points per game and 90 yards per game to its season average. Nearly identical improvements came at Florida Atlantic, as well.

The former Broyles Award finalist has also worked under vaunted offensive head coaches Art Briles, Lane Kiffin, and Sonny Dykes.

At Arkansas, he oversaw one of the most prolific rushing attacks in the country, highlighted by running back Rocket Sanders. Sanders, of course, went on to transfer to South Carolina.

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Briles’ most recent coaching stop at TCU was a successful one—it is worth noting, too, that he crossed paths with current South Carolina AD Jeremiah Donati in Fort Worth, while the latter was the athletic director for the Horned Frogs.

In 2024, under Briles’ tutelage, TCU quarterback Josh Hoover set the school’s single-season record for passing yards. The Horned Frogs finished 31st nationally in total offense each of the past two seasons. They were 11th nationally during the 2023 campaign.

Briles’ offenses have been among college football’s top 10 in passing offense the last three seasons, too.

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