List of Coaches who (approximately, at least) coached their last game as Head

Mar 13, 2024, 10:37 AM

Coach against the Clemson Tigers. You will see why that word approximately is in there as you go down the list. I may have missed one or two, I did not research this for weeks, only for a few minutes. I only went back to 1965, because I didn't have the inclination to go back further, and I knew there would be a University of South Carolina coach on the list sometime soon after the “Big Thursday” game against Clemson got moved near the end of the season, and started being a “home and home” series starting in 1960.

1965-Marvin Bass-South Carolina: This was a “technical loss”, as South Carolina actually won the last game against Clemson 17-16, but was later forced to forfeit ALL their ACC games for using two ineligible players. It would be Marvin Bass last game as a college Head Coach.

1974-Paul Dietzel-South Carolina: Clemson retired another Coot Head Coach by beating “Pepsodent Paul” Dietzel 39-21 in the last game of the 1974 season. After compiling winning records at LSU and Army, Dietzel went out a loser in Columbia.

1978-Woody Hayes-Ohio State: Everyone of a certain age knows about the punch that a whole Gator Bowl TV audience saw, and two announcers missed. That Charlie Baumann interception clinched the 17-15 victory over the Buckeyes for the Tigers in Danny Ford's first ever game as Head Coach. It was a sad end to a Hall of Fame career for Woody Hayes.

1981-Jim Carlen-South Carolina: Technically, he doesn't make the list, since his ACTUAL last loss, due to a scheduling quirk, was to Hawaii IN Hawaii, two weeks after being beaten 29-13 by Clemson. We'll give him dishonorable mention by saying his last ever MAINLAND USA loss as a Head Coach was to Clemson.

1982-Richard Bell-South Carolina: Talk about everybody realizing they had made a crewed up hire? Richard Bell was “One and DONE” as a Head Coach after a single year in Columbia, ending with a thud by losing 24-6 to 10th ranked Clemson. He would have a long assistant coaching career, but was never again a Head Coach.

1988-Joe Morrison-South Carolina: Another “Technical” inclusion on this list, his last ever REGULAR SEASON game as a Head Coach was the 29-10 loss to Clemson. His squad would also lose their Liberty Bowl game to Indiana 34-10 in his final game as a Head Coach. Morrison died tragically at age 51 from congestive heart failure on February 5, 1989 after collapsing while playing racquetball.

1989-Barry Switzer-Oklahoma: Clemson defeated Switzer's final Oklahoma squad 13-6 in the Florida Citrus Bowl in January 1989 at the end of the 1988 season. Switzer would go on to coach the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, but never held the title of Head Coach in college again.

1993-Sparky Woods-South Carolina: Another “Technical” inclusion on this list. Sparky Woods was fired after the 16-13 loss to Clemson ended the 1993 season. He was never a Head Coach at an FBS school again, but did coach FCS VMI, after a long Head Coaching absence, from 2008-14.

1998-Brad Scott-South Carolina: Brad Scott joined the South Carolina Graveyard of Coaches following a 28-19 loss to Clemson to end a dismal 1-10 1998 season. He would later be an assistant at Clemson and USF, but never a Head Coach again.

2004-Lou Holtz-South Carolina: “Granny” Lou Holtz had already planned to retire after the 2004 season anyway. But, even if he had not already made the decision, the major brawl that ensued in the Gamecocks 29-7 beatdown at the hands of Clemson may have made the decision a lot easier. He even lamented, “Woody Hayes is always remembered for throwing a punch in his last game against Clemson, now, I'm going to be remembered for a BRAWL in my last game against Clemson.”

2005-Mike Hankwitz-Colorado: This one is a WHAT? Addition to the list. Colorado's coach for most of the 2005 season was Gary Barnett. But, his contract was bought out, and a new coach hired, in Dan Hawkins, prior to the Buffaloes Champs Sports Bowl game against Clemson. But, Hawkins was coaching a bowl game at his OLD school the day AFTER this game, so, for the second time in his career, Mike Hankwitz was pressed into service as an Interim Head Coach. Clemson won the game 19-10, and it was Hankwitz's last appearance as a Head Coach anywhere. This one would be a GREAT Trivial Pursuit question and answer.

2009-Rich Brooks-Kentucky: Rich Brooks had a long Head Coaching career at Oregon, and then Kentucky, but it ended with a 21-13 loss to Clemson in the 2009 Music City Bowl. Brooks announced his retirement from coaching a few days after the game. Coincidentally, this was DABO SWINNEY's first bowl game victory as a Clemson Head Coach.

2015-Al Golden-Miami: I originally missed this one, I was looking at the ENDS of seasons, and Golden got canned in the MIDDLE of the season immediately after being owned by Clemson 58-0. He has been an assistant since, but no more Head Coaching gigs for him.

2015: Dishonorable Mention-Steve Spurrier-South Carolina: Spurrier saw the writing on the wall, and rather than take another beating at the hands of Clemson, resigned halfway through the 2015 season, leaving Interim Head Coach Shawn Elliott to actually absorb the beating. Spurrier wasted no time DISASSOCIATING himself from South Carolina, and REASSOCIATING himself with the Florida Gaytors following his resignation in Cootlumbia. And yet, they revere him to this day. Really, other than Wimmins basketball, what else do they have?

2020-Wilbert Muschamp- South Carolina: The last addition to the South Carolina Graveyard of Coaches, until the next one, Muschamp fooled the Coots into taking another chance on him, even after failure at his previous Head Coaching stop at Florida. Shirley it would be easier to win at South Carolina than at FLORIDA, right? Coot Logic at its finest, right there. He makes the list IN ABSENTIA, since the Coots and the whole SEC was too Chicken$h!t to even play Clemson, or any other OOC games in this Covid year. He was Ofer his career in four previous attempts against the Tigers, and it wouldn't have been any different in 2020. His ACTUAL final loss in that SEC-only 2-8 season that got him fired for the last time as a Head Coach was a 41-18 road beating at the hands of KENTUCKY.

????-Shane Beamer-South Carolina: Just warming up his spot, although, Shane-O-Matic is young enough, he might actually get another shot somewhere once South Carolina uses him up. NAHHH, my wife must have spiked my orange juice this morning!

Message was edited by: 76er®

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

List of Coaches who (approximately, at least) coached their last game as Head

Re: List of Coaches who (approximately, at least) coached their last game as Head

Re: List of Coaches who (approximately, at least) coached their last game as Head

Re: List of Coaches who (approximately, at least) coached their last game as Head

You are correct! Can't believe I forgot about him, because he was fired in

TigerBoard POTD