South Carolina coaching candidates: Hugh Freeze leads Will Muschamp’s substitute list



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So much to question the financial – and moral – sanity of a fired coach during a pandemic. Some things are more important, apparently, like the competition in the SEC.

South Carolina sacked coach Will Muschamp on Sunday seven games in his fifth season. The program had to weigh the risks of whether it could afford a monster buyout of around $ 15 million or the cost of keeping Muschamp. There was little buzz about the Gamecocks as they fell to 2-5 this weekend after losing to Ole Miss.

When things normalize, there must be some optimism and energy around the program. At present, there is really only one name that makes sense to succeed Muschamp.

Nonetheless, here is a full list of coaching candidates for South Carolina.

Hugh Freeze, Liberty trainer: Freeze is the leader of the clubhouse, and the clubhouse is not very big. Think of it this way: maybe South Carolina has opened because The gel is successful and available. Freeze is an accomplished SEC head coach who needs a lifeline from Liberty after the way he left Ole Miss. The Flames are undefeated and ranked for the first time in school history. There is no buyout that can keep Freeze at Liberty, especially when an SEC school is involved. Freeze signed an extension until 2026 last week. It does not matter. Common sense would have Freeze’s moral failures at Ole Miss mitigated by a car wash via Liberty. There might not even be a phone call to Flames athletic director Ian McCaw.

Muschamp and Freeze are both represented by super agent Jimmy Sexton. The only problem now is that the hiring would have to go through the commissioner of the SEC, Greg Sankey. Ole Miss went on probation under Freeze’s watch. When Nick Saban tried to hire Freeze as an assistant in 2018, he was reportedly shot by Sankey. But again, the stop at Liberty may have eased the mess.

Tony Elliott, Clemson Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Scott left for South Florida last year. Clemson’s two-headed offensive coordinator duo could be gone by the end of the month. Elliott, 40, has been at the top of his game for years. His run isn’t going to end anytime soon with quarterback Trevor Lawrence in his final season and DJ Uiagalelei is just getting started. Elliott’s offensive concepts are cutting edge. South Carolina could use the point right now after being kicked out of shit by the Tigers for the past six years.

Louisiana Coach Billy Napier: Napier showed incredible loyalty in his third year at Lafayette. At the tender age of 41, he was once a coordinator at Big Power Fives (Clemson and Arizona State) and a catcher’s coach in Alabama. He has already won two division titles in the Sun Belt, going 25-11. It’s his time, but will South Carolina be his place? Find out how Napier handled the team following the death of assistant DJ Looney. He was a stabilizing influence. Napier also coached in Furman State and South Carolina State.

Luke Fickell, Cincinnati Coach: Michigan could use it, but the former Ohio State player and assistant doesn’t. South Carolina is a fit but not adjustment. When Fickell leaves Cincinnati, it will be for a place where he can win a conference championship. That’s how great a job he did for the Bearcats. Winning the SEC East is a big job for anyone who isn’t a Florida or Georgia coach. Look for Fickell’s name on the surface if Texas separates from Tom Herman.

Steve Sarkisian, Alabama Offensive Coordinator: Sark is a veteran coach with national championship credentials as a coordinator. He’s kind of like a better version of Fickell. If Sark leaves Alabama for a head coaching position, it will be somewhere where he can win a conference championship. He apparently overcame drug addiction issues. There were some heart issues this summer, but Sarks seems to have overcome them as well. He is currently coaching a Heisman Trophy contender (Mac Jones) the year after coaching Tua Tagovailoa.

Coastal Carolina Coach Jamey Chadwell: Interesting candidate in the state who is probably not ready for an SEC job yet. Chadwell seamlessly transitioned to head coach after Joe Moglia became AD. In his sophomore year, he’s just 15-16 overall, but he got off to an impressive 7-0 start in 2020. His response after being asked about his interest in South Carolina was interesting.

Will Healy, Charlotte trainer: If all else fails, Healy would be a candidate. But not everything else will fail. Healy is one of the most innovative minds in the game at 35. He’s 2-3 in his second season with the 49ers.



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