After seeing 2 previously hired assistant coaches leave for Auburn University, new University of South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer quickly made 4 new hires.

Clayton White (defensive coordinator), Marcus Satterfield (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Luke Day (strength and conditioning) and Torrian Gray (defensive backs) were hired this past week.

This leaves only the offensive line coach position to fill following the departure of Will Friend to Auburn along with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.

CLAYTON WHITE

A native of Dunn, NC, the 43-year-old White is a 3-time Frank Broyles Award nominee for the nation’s top assistant coach (2017, 2019 and 2020) and an 18-year coaching veteran.

He has spent the past 4 seasons as the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Western Kentucky.

“I’ve had my eye on Clayton for a long time,” Beamer said. “He was a great player in college and had some time in the NFL. He’s been part of good programs and has a high level of success, most recently at Western Kentucky. He’s from North Carolina and has a lot of ties to the region. He had some opportunities to go elsewhere, but he wants to be at South Carolina and we’re happy to have him.”

In 2020, the Hilltoppers ranked 28th in total defense, including eighth in the nation in passing defense. Prior to his arrival in Bowling Green, White spent four seasons as the co-Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties Coach at NC State (2013-16). The Wolfpack ranked in the top-30 in total defense in both 2015 and 2016. In 2015, NC State was one of only two schools in the FBS to finish in the Top 20 in both Kickoff Return and Punt Return.

MARCUS SATTLEFIELD

The Greenfield, Tenn. native comes to Columbia with over 20 years of coaching experience in the college ranks, including 2 years as a head coach at Tennessee Tech. He has spent the past 3 years working under the tutelage of Matt Rhule, 1st as the director of recruiting at Baylor in 2018, then as the Bears’ tight ends coach in 2019 before spending the 2020 season as the assistant offensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers.

“I’ve known Marcus for nearly 20 years since we were graduate assistants together,” Beamer said. “He has a brilliant offensive mind and brings experience from both the collegiate and professional levels.

“Marcus was instrumental in rebuilding two championship college programs with me at both Temple and Baylor,” Rhule said. “His commitment to the student-athlete experience, his innovative mindset, and his unique ability to teach were all unbelievably valuable and why I was so excited to be able to bring him to the Carolina Panthers. I think South Carolina is getting a tremendous offensive mind who will help build them into a perennial contender.”

LUKE DAY

The Hamilton, Ohio native comes to South Carolina after spending the 2020 season as the head strength & conditioning coach at Marshall University, his 2nd stint there. He worked on the staff at Colorado in 2019.

“Luke comes highly recommended from people I trust,” Beamer said. “I spoke to a lot of strength coaches about our position and after spending 90 minutes on the phone with him, there was no doubt in my mind he was the best candidate by far. He has a great vision for developing the players, both in strength and conditioning and in the mental aspects, which is critical.”

TORRIAN GRAY

The Bartow, Fla. native has 19 years of coaching experience at the college and NFL level.

Gray played at Virginia Tech under the younger Beamer’s father, Frank, from 1993-96, and was his teammate as a senior.

After a brief pro career with the Minnesota Vikings, Gray coached at Maine, Connecticut and the NFL’s Chicago Bears. He spent 10 years at his college alma mater starting in 1996 before going to Florida for the 1st of his 2 stints.

Gray also coached former South Carolina cornerback DJ Swearinger during his 2 seasons back in the NFL with Washington before returning to Gainesville in 2019.