Todd Fitch Position: Assistant Coach

Todd Fitch begins his first season coaching the quarterbacks for the Gamecocks. Fitch brings a versatile offensive coaching background to the assignment, as he did a solid job of tutoring the Gamecock wide receivers his first three years on the Carolina staff and coaching the running backs in 2002.

A pair of Gamecock seniors -- fullback Andrew Pinnock and tailback Ryan Brewer -- both concluded outstanding careers in 2002. Pinnock finished his stint as a Gamecock with 27 career touchdowns, tied for third best in school history. Pinnock is projected to be one of the first fullbacks chosen in the 2003 NFL draft and played in the East-West Shrine Game. Brewer goes down as one of the most popular players in Carolina history, as the versatile performer was the epitome of the blue collar college football player. Brewer played in the Hula bowl this past February.

Wide receiver Brian Scott prospered under Fitch’s coaching, winning the team’s MVP honors in 2001. Scott was the team’s leading receiver and had a clutch touchdown catch in the closing moments to lift Carolina to a comeback victory at Georgia.

Fitch coached the USC wide receivers to improved productivity in 2000. Players such as Jermale Kelly, Brian Scott and Ryan Brewer were very consistent in catching the football and the USC passing game reaped dividends as a result. Kelly climbed up near the top of the USC career receiving list and was named team captain and team MVP for the 2000 season.

Fitch, who is in his fifth year at USC, came to the Gamecock program from the University of Connecticut, where he worked under Skip Holtz. Fitch was on the staff at UConn for five seasons and coordinated the offense for the Huskies in his final three years there. In 1998, UConn won a school-record 10 games and featured a high-powered and prolific offensive attack. While coordinating the offense, Husky quarterbacks set school records for passing yardage, touchdown passes and passing efficiency. UConn was nationally ranked four of the five years Fitch was there. Under Coach Fitch’s tutelage in 1998, UConn quarterback Shane Stafford finished his career eighth on the list for passing efficiency in the history of Division I-AA. Fitch, an Ohio native, is a 1986 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back and an all-league performer in 1985.

Following his playing career, Fitch moved on to an assistant coaching position at Ohio Wesleyan from 1986-87. He then accepted a graduate assistant position with Bowling Green for one year in 1988 and a volunteer coaching position at West Virginia in 1989. He was the wide receivers coach for two years at Bowling Green. Two of his wide receivers were drafted in the NFL.

Fitch moved to Colorado State where he worked as the running backs and special teams coordinator for two seasons. His starting fullback played in the NFL and his starting tailback was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game.

Fitch then moved to UConn where he was Skip Holtz’s offensive coordinator.

He and his wife, Julie, have a son, Curtis (7) and a daughter, Peyton (5).

The Fitch File
Born: February 15, 1964
High School Education: Bellaire (OH) HS
College Education: Ohio Wesleyan University, 1986
College Football: Three-year starter at defensive back, Ohio Wesleyan, 1982-85
College Coaching Career: Assistant Coach, South Carolina (1999-present); Assistant Coach, Connecticut (1994-98); Assistant Coach, Colorado State (1992-93); Assistant Coach, Bowling Green (1990-91); Volunteer Coach, West Virginia (1989); Graduate Assistant, Bowling Green (1988); Assistant Coach, Ohio Wesleyan (1986-87)
College Bowl & Playoff Experience: 2002 Outback Bowl, 2001 Outback Bowl, 1998 I-AA Playoffs
Wife: Julie
Children: Curtis (7), Peyton (5)