SC coaching search: Shawn Elliott to interview; Kirby Smart off

With rumors swirling around that Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will land the vacant SC job, Muschamp already has ideas of how he wants to assemble his staff. And that is to have a certain ex-South Carolina star on staff.

We are all waiting on pins and needles for the South Carolina Gamecocks to announce their new head coach.

There was hope that the team would continue to get better in Muschamp’s second season on The Plains, but now Auburn will have to search for its third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. It paid him $1.6 million this year and is set to increase by $100,000 in each of the next two seasons. The South Carolina Gamecocks said goodbye to the winningest coach in the history of their football program earlier this season when Steve Spurrier, father of the “Fun “n” Gun”, retired. Interim head coach Shawn Elliott has also interviewed for the position, a source said.

Auburn Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp complains to an official during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn DC Will Muschamp’s name has come up as a possibility for SC – however, and this is interesting – Smart wants Muschamp to make the trip up to Athens with him. Both Muschamp and Smart played at Georgia.

It’s not like he forgot to coach after leading Florida to a 11-win season, right? Even Lane Kiffin, who is only 40, will deserve another shot at a head coaching position at some point.

The deal with Muschamp is “all but done”, according to a source not identified by Sports Illustrated in the report. Riley has never been a head coach but as a Mike Leach disciple, he would certainly bring an offensive-minded approach to his first head coaching job.

Cal’s Sonny Dykes: The former coach at Louisiana Tech was scooped up quickly to take over a moribund Cal program, but supposedly could be lured back to the south.