Geoff Collins Officially Joins South Carolina as Senior Defensive Assistant

Just a day after speculation began circulating, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer confirmed on Sunday that former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins is officially joining the Gamecocks’ staff. Collins will serve as a senior defensive assistant, the school announced.

“Geoff brings a wealth of experience and success from across college football,” Beamer said in a statement following the announcement.

Collins arrives in Columbia after spending the 2023 season as defensive coordinator under Mack Brown at North Carolina. There, he helped guide a Tar Heels defense that recorded 41 sacks—good for sixth nationally.

The initial report of Collins’ addition was first shared by TheBigSpur’s Hale McGranahan on Saturday.

According to the university’s release, Collins has logged six years of head coaching experience and 12 years as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate level, including six seasons in the SEC. His extensive resume includes coaching or recruiting over 36 future NFL players, with six of those being draft picks during his time at Georgia Tech.

As a recruiter, Collins made a significant impact. He secured back-to-back top-25 recruiting classes at Georgia Tech, including the program’s first top-25 class since 2007. His 2021 class ranked inside the top 20, and during his tenure, the Yellow Jackets landed 34 four- or five-star recruits—along with 18 of the top 50 highest-rated high school players in program history.

Before his time at Georgia Tech, Collins made history at Temple. In just two seasons (2017–18), he led the Owls to 15 wins and two bowl appearances—making it the most successful start for a head coach in Temple’s 121-year football history. The 2017 Gasparilla Bowl win over FIU marked only the third bowl victory in the school’s history.

Prior to becoming a head coach, Collins was widely regarded as one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators. He held DC roles at Florida (2015–16), Mississippi State (2013–14; co-DC in 2011–12), FIU (2010), and Western Carolina (2002–05). His defenses consistently ranked among the best in the country, including two top-10 finishes in total defense at Florida—No. 8 in 2015 and No. 5 in 2016.

At Mississippi State, his units ranked 18th in total defense in 2013 and 23rd in scoring defense in 2014. His one season at FIU saw his defense lead the Sun Belt in total defense, scoring defense, and turnover margin.

Notably, Collins is the only coach ever to be nominated for the prestigious Broyles Award—given to the top assistant in college football—at three different schools (FIU in 2010, Mississippi State in 2014, and Florida in 2015).

Collins has a deep history with Georgia Tech, starting as a graduate assistant from 1999–2000 before returning as tight ends coach in 2001 and later as director of player personnel in 2006. His broader coaching journey includes stops at Western Carolina, Fordham, Albright, Alabama (2007 director of player personnel), UCF, and Franklin High School in North Carolina.

As a player, Collins made his mark at Western Carolina, where he recorded 194 tackles while playing outside linebacker and defensive back from 1989 to 1992.

Now, Collins brings that deep well of experience and proven success to Columbia, where he’ll add another seasoned voice to an increasingly stacked South Carolina coaching staff.