Steve Spurrier Headlines 2026 South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Class
Steve Spurrier is headed for yet another hall of fame - and this time, it's a celebration that spans the entire state of South Carolina.
The former South Carolina Gamecocks head coach has been selected for induction into the 2026 class of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. This isn’t just a nod from the University of South Carolina - whose own athletic hall of fame has yet to honor Spurrier - but from the broader athletic community across the Palmetto State. It’s a recognition of Spurrier’s lasting impact on South Carolina sports, and a reminder of just how much he reshaped the Gamecocks football program during his decade-long tenure.
Spurrier joins a loaded class that includes a mix of collegiate legends, pro standouts, and longtime contributors to South Carolina’s rich sports history. Also being inducted: former Clemson women’s basketball coach Jim Davis, Clemson pitcher Brian Barnes, retired Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret, South Carolina State defensive back Dwayne Harper, Greenwood native and former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, Georgia basketball great Saudia Roundtree (an Anderson native), Olympic thrower and Coastal Carolina alum Amber Campbell, veteran high school track coach Bob Jenkins, and former Gamecocks defensive lineman Andrew Provence - who racked up over 400 tackles between 1980 and 1982.
The induction ceremony is set for Monday, May 18, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
For Spurrier, this is another addition to a résumé that’s already bursting with accolades. He’s a two-time College Football Hall of Famer - first inducted as a player in 1986, then again as a coach in 2017.
He won the Heisman Trophy as Florida’s quarterback in 1966, and the Gators inducted him into their own hall of fame just two years later. The state of Florida followed suit in 1970.
Now, he becomes the fifth former South Carolina football coach to be inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, joining Billy Laval (1928-34), Rex Enright (1938-55), Jim Carlen (1975-81), and Joe Morrison (1983-88).
Spurrier arrived in Columbia in 2005 and wasted little time turning the Gamecocks into a legitimate SEC force. The peak came between 2010 and 2013 - a golden four-year stretch where South Carolina went 42-11, finished in the AP Top 10 three straight seasons, and looked every bit the national contender. That run included landmark wins, elite recruiting classes, and a swagger that hadn’t been seen in Columbia before - all trademarks of Spurrier’s coaching style.
Though he stepped down unexpectedly during the 2015 season, his impact is still felt. Spurrier’s 86-49 record remains the best in school history, well ahead of Rex Enright’s 64 wins, which rank second.
Clemson Legends Also Get the Call
Three of the 2026 inductees come from Clemson’s athletic family, each with a legacy of their own.
Left-handed pitcher Brian Barnes made a name for himself on the mound from 1986 to 1989, setting the ACC career strikeout record at the time. His 513 strikeouts still rank fourth in conference history. In 1989, Barnes earned First Team All-American honors before going on to pitch in the majors for five seasons with the Expos, Indians, and Dodgers.
Jim Davis, the longtime leader of Clemson women’s basketball, built a powerhouse during his 18 seasons at the helm. From 1987 to 2004, Davis racked up a school-record 355 wins, guiding the Tigers to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, four Sweet Sixteen runs, and a trip to the Elite Eight. His consistency and longevity made him one of the most respected coaches in the women’s game during his era.
Tim Bourret, a staple in Clemson’s athletic communications department, spent 40 years shaping the public face of the Tigers. As the longtime football SID and a trusted voice across multiple sports, Bourret earned numerous industry awards and continues to contribute to Clemson broadcasts in a part-time analyst role.
A Celebration of South Carolina Sports Excellence
From Spurrier’s SEC success to Barnes’ dominance on the mound, from Davis’ tournament runs to Campbell’s Olympic pedigree, the 2026 South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame class is a showcase of the state’s deep and diverse sports legacy.
It’s a group that spans generations, sports, and levels of competition - and when they gather in Columbia this May, it’ll be more than just a ceremony. It’ll be a celebration of what makes South Carolina’s sports culture so special: excellence, resilience, and a lasting impact on the communities they’ve represented.