Shane Beamer’s South Carolina was among the nation’s most potent punt return units last season despite finishing 4-8 (1-7 SEC). The Gamecocks ranked among the top 20 in average punt return yards, powered by Vicari Swain, who shared the top spot in single-season punt touchdown returns with three, tying the program record.
Shane Beamer Set To Boost Gamecocks’ Special Teams With Matthew Smiley Addition
Swain will return next season for South Carolina, but the unit will not have special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, who the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders hired as the new special teams coach. To plug the big hole in the unit, the university will tap former Buffalo Bills special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley.
Citing sources close to the situation, ESPN college football senior writer Pete Thamel reported that Beamer is expected to hire Smiley, who has worked with NFL special teams for more than a decade, as special teams coordinator, replacing DeCamillis.
Sources: South Carolina is expected to hire Matthew Smiley as the school’s new special teams coordinator. He’s worked in special teams in the NFL for more than a decade and was Buffalo’s STC from 2022-24. He’s been STC at Dartmouth, Eastern Illinois and Charleston Southern. pic.twitter.com/t0nrZKwx7n
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 20, 2026
Smiley began his special teams career in 2013 as an assistant special teams coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars, then moved to Buffalo in the same role in 2017. He was promoted in 2022 and remained with the Bills until 2024.
During his final stint with Buffalo, he coached a unit that ranked 26th in the league for average kickoff return yards and sixth for average punt return yards. The Bills averaged 45.9 yards per punt and converted 82.8% of their kicks that season. Smiley also guided Bills kicker Tyler Bass to score 141 points in 2020 and 135 in 2021.
MORE: Shane Beamer Shakes Up Staff Following $800K Coordinator Exit and Former South Carolina QB Hire
Before joining the NFL, the 47-year-old Illinois product held several coaching roles, including special teams coach and assistant quarterbacks coach at Dartmouth in 2005. He was named the Big Green special teams coordinator the following year.
Smiley was hired as offensive coordinator at Eureka College, a Division III program in Illinois, in 2007. The following season, he was named defensive coordinator and served as interim head coach for four games in 2008, leading the Red Devils to a 2-2 record.
He also served as running backs coach and special teams coordinator for Eastern Illinois from 2009-11, then made his first coaching stint in South Carolina with Charleston Southern in 2012. He lasted a season there before working for the Jaguars.
Once formally introduced, Smiley will serve as the Gamecocks’ third special teams coordinator in six seasons under Beamer. The report did not reveal whether Beamer will give Smiley another title, as DeCamillis and his predecessor, Pete Lembo, were also associate head coaches at South Carolina.
In addition to Smiley, South Carolina hired Deion Barnes as defensive ends/outside linebackers coach; Kendal Briles (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach); Randy Clements (offensive line coach); and Stan Drayton (assistant head coach for offense/running backs coach).
The Gamecocks must improve on their lackluster showing last season, when they allowed 22.1 points per game while scoring 22.7 points per contest.
