[a] Berson had been the Gamecocks' only head coach since the program's inception in 1978 and had participated in 20 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Quarterfinals on four occasions.

[2][3] South Carolina first fielded a men's soccer team in 1978 under the direction of current coach Mark Berson.

The program wasted little time making a name for itself on the national stage, as it reached the NCAA Quarterfinals in 1985.

The 14-year period from 1985 to 1998 was a dominant era for South Carolina, as it posted a 213–61–22 overall record with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.

South Carolina and Kentucky continued to play in C-USA through the 2021 season, after which both left to join the revived men's soccer league of the Sun Belt Conference.