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5 candidates for South Carolina football coach if Will Muschamp is fired

By Brad Berreman

COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 02: Head coach Will Muschamp of the South Carolina Gamecocks prior to their game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 2, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 02: Head coach Will Muschamp of the South Carolina Gamecocks prior to their game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 2, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

3. Mike Leach, Washington State head coach

Before dismissing Leach as a candidate at South Carolina, let’s remember he was a rumored candidate at Tennessee a couple of years ago and may have taken the job if it was actually offered by then-athletic director John Currie. Currie was fired soon after pursuing Leach and other candidates, then new AD Phillip Fulmer ultimately hired Jeremy Pruitt.

Tennessee and South Carolina are not that different in the grand scope of college head coaching jobs right now, and if both were available there would surely be some overlap in rumored candidates. Via USA TODAY’s salary database, Muschamp ($4.4 million) and Pruitt ($3.846 million) are making more than Leach is this year ($3.75 million). Sometimes, it literally pays to be an SEC head coach as opposed to a Pac-12 head coach. And Leach appears open to leaving Washington State, even if it looks like a lateral move or even a downgrade in job.

Leach in the SEC is an interesting prospect, if only for his quirky personality and pass-heavy Air Raid offense to go against the better defenses in the conference. South Carolina needs someone to bring some spark to the program, and Leach would provide it like few candidates can.

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