Skip to main content
Partner logo
Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link
Beamer Named Semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award
Football  . 

Beamer Named Semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award

University of South Carolina head football coach has been named one of 18 semifinalists for the George Munger Award, which recognizes the College Football Coach of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced today.

Established in 1989, the George Munger Award is a prestigious honor in college football, awarded annually to the sport’s most outstanding coach. This accolade recognizes exceptional leadership, strategic innovation, and significant impact on the game. The award is named in tribute to George Munger, a respected figure in college football known for his influential coaching career.

George Munger, who served as the head coach of the University of Pennsylvania football team from 1938 to 1953, is celebrated for his remarkable contributions to the sport. Under his leadership, the Penn Quakers achieved multiple Ivy League championships and gained a reputation for strong, disciplined play. Munger’s innovative strategies and dedication to his teams left a lasting legacy in college football, influencing coaching methods and inspiring future leaders.

Wrapping up his fourth season leading the South Carolina Football program, Shane Beamer is enjoying his most successful season to date. He has previously been named a finalist for both the Eddie Robinson and the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year awards.

Beamer’s 2024 squad posted nine regular season wins, something that has been done just five times in school history. The Gamecocks recorded a school-record four wins against ranked opponents, including three in consecutive weeks as part of a season-ending six-game winning streak. He was the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Week following the Gamecocks’ upset win over Texas A&M and earned SEC Coach of the Year accolades from the AP and from USA TODAY. The Gamecocks will finish the season with their highest ranking since 2013.

Beamer, who owns a 29-21 record, has won more games through his first four seasons at Carolina than any other coach, one more than Steve Spurrier, the school’s all-time winningest coach.

Finalists will be announced on December 24 and the winner of the 2024 George Munger Award will be announced on Thursday January 9, 2025. The formal presentation of the George Munger Coach of the Year Award will be held on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Beamer will lead the No. 14/14 Gamecocks (9-3, 5-3 SEC) to the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to face the No. 21/21 Illinois Fighting Illini (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Game time is set for 3 pm ET from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.