Arkansas coordinator job is open. Will Sam Pittman come calling for Dowell Loggains?
Since he graduated from Virginia Tech in 1999, Shane Beamer has taken eight different jobs.
He went from Georgia Tech to Tennessee to Mississippi State to South Carolina to Virginia Tech to Georgia to Oklahoma and back to South Carolina, where he’s in his third season as the Gamecocks head coach.
That all is to say this: Beamer is no stranger to the coaching carousel. He understands jobs open up all the time. And it wouldn’t be a shock if his staff fields some calls or inquires about moving on for a bigger role or a bigger paycheck.
All Beamer asks of his assistants: “Be honest with me,” he said Tuesday. “I don’t want to be surprised by anything.”
“I’ve been places where you are an assistant coach this time of the year, certain coaches’ offices — assistant coaches’ offices — sometimes those doors are shut more than they should be and they are in there on the phone working on navigating the next move. We better not have any of that here. Our focus better be on Kentucky and Kentucky only.”
Beamer continued: “I have told our staff, I will always help them if there is an opportunity out there that they feel like is a better situation, or a promotion for their family, or a chance to advance their career. I don’t ever want to stand in the way. I was an assistant coach for 20 years before I became a head coach, so I get it. I’ve been in that chair.”
One guy who might draw outside interest in South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.
Despite the Gamecocks’ 4-6 record, Loggains has proved himself in Year One under Beamer. He’s had to make do with an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries. He’s shown to be a creative play caller. He’s got quarterback Spencer Rattler on pace for his best statistical collegiate season.
Oh, and the offensive coordinator job at his alma mater is open.
Arkansas, where Loggains graduated in 2003 and earned his master’s in 2005, fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos three weeks ago, and Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman will need to fill the position this offseason.
Hiring Loggains would not just bring nostalgia, but continuity. Loggains arrived at South Carolina after spending two years on Pittman’s staff as Arkansas’ tight ends coach.
“I don’t know what Sam’s plans are out in Arkansas, but I think Dowell’s very happy here,” Beamer said. “Certainly, when I saw that news a couple of weeks ago with the situation at Arkansas, Dowell and I had some conversations. I know he is very happy here and his family is happy here. We are super happy that he is here, as well.”
Salary-wise, both jobs match up. Back in December, Loggains signed a three-year contract worth $1 million per year. Meanwhile, Enos was making $1.1 million this year.
Beamer understands that the job may be alluring for Loggains if it was offered, but he seemed confident Tuesday that Loggains will be in Columbia next season.
“He and I have talked,” Beamer added, “and I’ll keep those conversations between us.”
This story was originally published November 14, 2023 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Arkansas coordinator job is open. Will Sam Pittman come calling for Dowell Loggains?."
