South Carolina fires former Alabama head coach, quarterback Mike Shula

FILE – South Carolina offensive analyst Mike Shula walks the field during warm-ups before an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, FIle)

South Carolina has fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula, who was once Alabama’s head football coach and was the Crimson Tide’s quarterback in the 1980s.

Head coach Shane Beamer announced today that he has relieved offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shula of his duties, effective immediately.

The Gamecocks are 3-6 and 1-6 in the SEC so far this season.

CBS Sports reports the Gamecocks are the only Power Four team that has not surpassed 350 total yards in a game this season. They sit at or near the bottom of the league in most major offensive categories. Their 19.7 points per game is the program’s lowest average since 2002 — even with an SEC-leading six non-offensive touchdowns boosting that total.

South Carolina’s scoring offense is 19.7 PPG, worst in the SEC, as is its total offense and rushing offense.

It ranks 15th in the SEC in passing offense, third-down conversions and sacks allowed.

Shula was starting quarterback at Alabama from 1984-1986. He returned to become head coach at Alabama from 2003-2006, before being fired to make way for Nick Saban to take over. He is the son of Don Shula, the NFL’s all-time winningest coach, who led the 1972 Miami Dolphins to the only undefeated season in NFL history.

Beamer promoted Shula from an offensive analyst role to offensive coordinator last December on a three-year contract, following Dowell Loggains’ departure to Appalachian State.