The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved the contracts of 8 assistants named to new University of South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer’s staff.

A total of 4 coaches – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo, running backs coach Des Kitchings, defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson – were retained from the previous staff.

In addition, Connor Shaw will return in a to-be-determined, off-the-field role within the football program.

Having previously announced the addition of Dutch Fork graduate and former Hammond School head coach Erik Kimrey as the tight ends coach, the 3 newcomers are reportedly:

WILL FRIEND (Offensive Line)

Friend has extensive experience working in both the SEC and with

offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. A native of Philadelphia, Miss., he spent the past 3 seasons as the offensive line coach at the University of Tennessee where he mentored Trey Smith, who was named to the All-SEC first team unit in both 2019 and 2020.

Friend came to Rocky Top after a 3-year stint (2015-17) as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Colorado State University where he worked with Bobo. Friend and Bobo also worked together at the University of Georgia from 2011 to 2014.

PETE LEMBO (Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator)

Lembo comes to South Carolina after 2 seasons with Memphis. Nominated for the Broyles Award, the 2019 Tigers special teams ranked in the top-10 in 6 NCAA/FBS statistical categories: kick-return yards (2nd), kick-return TD (2nd), blocked kicks (6th), blocked punts (6th), kickoff touchbacks (6th) and kick returns (9th). He also was 1 of 3 finalists for FootballScoop.com’s Special Teams Coordinator of the Year

“Pete brings a tremendous amount of experience to our staff, has coached on many levels and has been a head coach,” Beamer said. “His football IQ is outstanding, especially in special teams. He was a successful head coach and as a special teams coordinator, his units contributed greatly to the team’s overall success.”

JUSTIN STEPP (Wide Receivers)

The former Pelion High School standout and Furman University graduate returns to his home state after spending the past 9 years coaching the position at 3 different colleges - Appalachian State, SMU and and Arkansas. He also previously spent a season at North Greenville and was a graduate assistant at Clemson.

During Stepp’s career as a wide receivers coach, he’s tutored 3 different players who have combined for four 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He takes over a group that struggled last year save for the departing Shi Smith.