Will Muschamp fired by South Carolina football after 2-5 start

Will Muschamp has been fired by South Carolina football after 4.5 seasons

South Carolina football has parted ways with its former head coach Will Muschamp.

After losing to the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday night to fall to 2-5 on the year, University of South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner felt he was left no choice but to relieve the head coach of his duties. Muschamp went 28-30 overall and 17-22 in SEC play over parts of five seasons in Columbia. South Carolina now becomes one of the most lucrative jobs to be available for 2021.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo will serve as the interim head coach for South Carolina for the rest of the season. Bobo had served as the Colorado State Rams head coach for several years before joining Muschamp’s staff this past offseason. Tanner released a statement on the decision to part ways with Muschamp when South Carolina did on Sunday evening.

“After a thorough assessment of our football program, we have decided to make a change with the head football coach,” said Tanner. “I appreciate all that Will Muschamp has done for our program and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

“I believe our program will be well served by Coach Bobo as the interim head coach as we search for a new leader for Gamecock Football.”

“We will begin a search immediately to find the best head coach for Carolina football. We have great facilities, a passionate fan base, a University that is committed to excellence in football and a support system that is second to none in developing student-athletes.”

“We will be looking for someone with the energy, commitment and organizational skills that can move our program to a championship level.”

Who could South Carolina hire to replace Will Muschamp in 2021?

Because of the global pandemic, we should not expect a ton of head-coaching vacancies to open up across the Power 5. However, we had our eyes on the South Carolina gig as late as this time last season. Had Muschamp not beating his alma mater’s Georgia Bulldogs in Athens in double overtime a season ago, he would not have been given a fifth year at the helm in South Carolina.

While Muschamp will find work as an overqualified defensive coordinator in 2021, it is tricky for Tanner to find a suitable replacement. South Carolina is notorious for being a head coach’s last stop before he hangs up the head set. Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier never coached a college team again after leaving South Carolina. However, the university is in a rare position of power for 2021.

Guys who may be in the mix for this gig are Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and Liberty Flames head coach Hugh Freeze. These are two coaches with troubled pasts who would thrive at South Carolina with lower SEC expectations, but in a talent-rich region in the Southeastern United States. This and the Michigan Wolverines will be the two best jobs available.

So what do we make of the Muschamp era of South Carolina football? Initially, we thought it may work. South Carolina went 9-4 (5-3) in 2017, finishing in second place in the SEC East behind rival Georgia. However, a 7-6 2018, a 4-8 2019 and now a 2-5 2020 were all the proof Tanner needed to make a move when he did. While it was a year too late, South Carolina can finally move on.

South Carolina positions itself to make a major head-coaching hire this offseason cycle.

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