Former Gamecocks defensive line coach Brad Lawing dies

COLUMBIA — Former South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing, who worked for the Gamecocks in two separate stints covering 17 seasons, died on Thursday morning. He was 65. A larger-than-life personality who recruited and coached some of the Gamecocks’ greatest stars — including John Abraham and No. 1 NFL Draft pick Jadeveon Clowney — Lawing worked for USC from 1989-98 and again from 2006-12. He coached Gerald Dixon in his first stint at USC and Dixon’s two sons, Gerald S. Dixon and Gerald Dixon Jr., in his second. Lawing played linebacker for four years at Lenoir-Rhyne and is a member of the school’s Sports Hall of Fame, and also worked at Florida State, Florida, North Carolina, Appalachian State and Michigan State. In 2019, Lawing was hired at Georgia State under head coach Shawn Elliott, who he worked alongside at USC, but stepped down after four months to concentrate on his health. Lawing confirmed to The Post and Courier a month ago that he had to get out of coaching because he was dealing with several maladies, but was recovering. At the time, the man who replaced him at Georgia State and who played under him at USC, Travian Robertson, had just been hired as the Gamecocks’ new D-line coach. Lawing glowingly spoke of his former pupil as one of the best and hardest-working players he ever had. Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer, who was also on USC’s staff with Lawing from 2007-10, tweeted his condolences on Thursday. Several other formers players and coaches began to chime in as the news spread. So sorry to hear this awful news …Coach Lawing loved @GamecockFB Please keep his family in your prayers https://t.co/cj48pJWHmu — Shane Beamer (@CoachSBeamer) June 15, 2023 Known for tireless work ethic and intensity on the field and being a raconteur off it, Lawing had terrific stories from his four decades of coaching. He was a go-to source for tales from the Gamecocks’ greatest stretch of football, when the defenses he helped coach always finished in the top 15 in the nation.