The State reported Thursday that Muschamp was supposed to be the last coach to interview with Tanner one-one-one after the Gamecocks athletics director had spoken with SC interim coach Shawn Elliot and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Riley, the first-year offensive coordinator for the Sooners, has helped push the team into its first ever College Football Playoff spot.
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University of South Florida head coach Willie Taggert had what sources close to the SC program tell Sports Talk Florida was a very strong interview for the opening. What Muschamp can offer Tanner is someone who is familiar with the SEC after stints at LSU under Nick Saban and Auburn. He was the Florida head coach for four seasons from 2011 to 2014, compiling a 28-21 record before being fired at the end of the 2014 season. In his third year at USF he has turned the corner after a rocky first two seasons that saw him post a less than impressive 6-18 record. 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.
This has been Taggarts the head coach at South Florida.
Muschamp’s departure would put Auburn in a undesirable – but somewhat expected – position as it searches for a fifth defensive coordinator in six years. It is possible for coaches to learn and grow on the job, and it’s reasonable to believe that Muschamp will learn from his past mistakes and make significant adjustments if given the chance to run the show as a head coach for a second time. With conference titles and national championships at stake over the next few weeks, it may be a week or so before SC finds their guy and gets him to sign on the dotted line.
Will Muschamp could be getting a second head coaching shot in the SEC.
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Riley would become the youngest head coach at the FBS level. Dykes is 35-38 as a head coach.
