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Shane Beamer may follow in his dad’s coaching footsteps as the head coach at Murray State. The former Virginia Tech football player and current South Carolina assistant coach was named as a candidate for the job in an Examiner.com article posted yesterday.

Beamer, 32, has made a name for himself in the coaching circles since graduating from Tech in 1999. This year he was named one of 34 semi-finalist for the Frank Broyles award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach. Current Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster won the award in 2006.

In 2009, Beamer’s unit (cornerbacks and strong safeties) was one of the most productive on the field as his squad was part of a defense that finished the regular season ranked 12th in the nation in pass defense and 15th in total defense. In 2008, the pass defense was ranked 2nd in the nation and 13th in total defense.

From Shane’s Official USC Bio:

Beamer joined the Carolina staff after spending the previous three seasons at Mississippi State University. He was hired by Sylvester Croom in January 2004 to coach the Bulldog cornerbacks under defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. In his first two seasons at MSU he guided three defensive backs to Freshman All-SEC accolades. He made the move to running backs coach in the spring of 2006. He also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Beamer came to MSU from the University of Tennessee where he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant football coach on the defensive side of the ball. In that capacity, he assisted with the development of the Volunteer defensive backs, was directly responsible for coaching the placekickers, punters and long snappers, and assisted in all special teams areas. He also oversaw game opponent scouting while at UT.

During his three seasons in Knoxville, the Volunteers played in one SEC Championship game (2001) and went to three straight bowl games. While at UT, Beamer earned a master’s degree in sport science in December, 2003.

Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, Beamer worked one season as an offensive graduate assistant at Georgia Tech. He assisted with the Yellow Jacket quarterbacks and wide receivers in his one season at the Atlantic Coast Conference school. That squad finished the season with a 9-3 mark and a berth in the 2000 Peach Bowl.

Beamer earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in 1999 and was the Hokies’ starting long snapper for three seasons. He also contributed in the wide receiver corps. He played on four bowl teams and three Big East Conference championship squads. He concluded his college playing career by helping the `99 Hokies to a No. 2 final regular season ranking and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Born March 31, 1977 in Charleston, S.C., Beamer is the son of longtime Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer. He is married to the former Emily Gladney, a Starkville, Miss., native.

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