Well, Tiger fans, brace yourselves. The South Carolina Gamecocks just made the kind of move that will have every Clemson supporter doing a double take. They’ve gone and poached one of our own, adding a little extra heat to the Palmetto State’s fiercest rivalry.
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris made it official: former Clemson assistant Steve Smith is now wearing garnet and black. Smith, who spent years helping build the Tigers’ program, is taking his recruiting chops and Upstate know-how down to Columbia. That’s a tough pill to swallow for anyone who bleeds orange.
A True "Welcome Home"
For Paris, this was a slam dunk. Smith’s roots run deep in South Carolina, and Paris is banking on that Tiger pedigree to give the Gamecocks an edge.
“Steve’s basketball connections throughout the southeast, and especially in the state of South Carolina, are as strong as any assistant coach in the country,” Paris said in an official statement. “He is incredibly experienced and will undoubtedly bring immediate value to our program in numerous ways. With Steve growing up in the state of South Carolina and his wife being a USC alum, this is a true Welcome Home.”
Another big addition to our staff...
— South Carolina Men's Basketball (@GamecockMBB) June 2, 2026
Let's get to work, coach! 💼🤙#Gamecocks🐔🏀 // #ForeverToThee pic.twitter.com/3SPxoG1UFZ
Smith matched that energy, making it clear he’s fired up to join Paris and try to help the Gamecocks climb the ladder.
“I’m extremely excited to be blessed with this incredible opportunity,” Smith said. “Coach Paris is a great basketball mind whom I’ve admired from afar for many years. I can’t wait to get started with him and the rest of the staff. Forever to Thee!”
The Resume: ACC Battle-Tested and Deeply Rooted in the Southeast
Tiger fans know Steve Smith all too well. He was a key piece of Brad Brownell’s staff during some of Clemson’s steadiest years, helping recruit and build the kind of defense that made the Tigers a tough out. Smith’s coaching journey is a who’s who of Southeastern basketball stops:
- Clemson Tigers (2012–2019): Spent seven highly productive seasons on Brad Brownell's staff in the Upstate.
- Other ACC Stops: Logged high-stakes assistant coaching tenures at Florida State (under Leonard Hamilton) and Boston College.
- Regional Roots: Served as an assistant at Georgia Southern (2009–2012) under Charlton Young and cut his teeth at USC Upstate (2005–2009).
It’s going to sting seeing a former Tiger leader wearing garnet and black, no doubt about it. But even the most die-hard Clemson fan has to admit: Paris just scored a big-time get, landing one of the most respected recruiters and basketball minds in the region.
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