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Shawn Elliott

Hometown: Camden, S.C. High School: Camden, S.C. Last College: Appalachian State

Position: Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator Experience: 3rd Year

Shawn Elliott begins his third season in Columbia as the Gamecocks' offensive line coach and running game coordinator. The Camden, S.C. native officially joined Coach Spurrier's staff on Jan. 3, 2010, replacing Eric Wolford, who accepted the head coaching position at Youngstown State University in December 2009.

The former Appalachian State offensive line coach's first Gamecock squad showed a tremendous turnaround, especially in the running game, as Carolina averaged 154.4 rushing yards per game to rank eighth in the SEC after finishing last in the league each of the previous three years. His implementation of a new blocking scheme also helped running back Marcus Lattimore set the Carolina freshman record for rushing yards and the all-time single-season touchdown record for the Gamecocks while earning unanimous National Freshman of the Year accolades. Elliott helped convert former walk-on Garrett Chisolm into a second-team All-SEC selection.

Prior to his arrival in Columbia, Elliott had coached his entire career at Appalachian State, where he helped the Mountaineers to three straight national championships (2005-07). After earning his bachelor's degree from Appalachian State in 1996, Elliott worked for two seasons as a defensive assistant, then two seasons as the tight ends coach before taking over the offensive line in 2001. Over his final nine seasons as the offensive line coach at App State, Elliott's players earned All-America distinction on 12 occasions. From 2005-07, he coached three-consecutive SoCon Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipients.

Elliott was the first player in Appalachian State history to appear in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs four separate seasons. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Black and Gold, helping the squad to two Southern Conference titles. He was a co-captain on the Mountaineers' 1995 squad that finished 12-1 while earning all-league distinction as a defensive end. In his four seasons as a player, the Mountaineers posted a combined record of 36-14.

Elliott was one of three Appalachian State coaches to earn the NCAA's Award of Valor for their efforts in rescuing two individuals from a car accident on Oct. 1, 2000. Elliott, 38, is married to the former Summer Scruggs, who was ASU's women's tennis Most Valuable Player in 1998. They have two children, a daughter, Maddyn, and a son, Max.