COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina has hired former NFL player and assistant coach Mike Furrey as its wide receivers coach, the third person to hold that position since the season ended.

Furrey, who led the NFC with 98 catches in 2006 with the Detroit Lions, was most recently head coach the past two years at Limestone College, an NCAA Division II school in Gaffney.

On Thursday, South Carolina’s board of trustees approved a two-year contract that will pay Furrey $425,000 a season.

Furrey takes over for James Coley, the ex-Texas A&M assistant who was hired by head coach Shane Beamer in January and left for a similar spot at Georgia earlier this month.

Justin Stepp had been receivers coach under Beamer the past three seasons, but was moved to tight ends coach before taking a job as an Illinois assistant.

Furrey spent four seasons as receivers coach for the Chicago Bears from 2018-2021.

He began his college coaching career in 2011 as head coach at Kentucky Christian, an NAIA school. He has also worked at Marshall as receivers coach before his first tenure leading Limestone as coach in 2016-17.

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Furrey, 46, played seven years in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams, the Lions and Cleveland Browns. His best year as a pro was in 2006 with the Lions where he led the NFC with 98 catches for 1,086 yards and seven touchdowns.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football