Me oh my who you think the new coach will be? let's look at some candidates.
let's start with Zoom press conference
USC AD Ray Tanner held a Zoom press conference with the media Monday morning. The 30 minute session opened with Tanner expressing his appreciation for Will Muschamp and his belief that Muschamp left behind a culture the new coach can build upon. Muschamp appeared emotional at times, especially when describing his conversation with Muschamp in which he delivered him the bad news. Tanner said he is a one man committee but will be working with USC President Bob Caslen and answering to him. His hope is to have a new head coach on board within the month. Tanner said he would like a young, offensive minded coach who can bring energy, enthusiasm and fun into the program, noting that the fun is in the winning. Tanner Sunday promoted offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo to interim head coach and said the former Colorado State head coach could be one he considers for the job.
the latest Grope ot the week
Three popular names being spitballed are Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer, Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell and Louisiana head coach Billy Napier. All three have supporters among USC board members. Beamer is a former Gamecock assistant and the son of Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer. He is viewed as a coach who would bring a CEO approach to the job who would hire an excellent staff and allow his to carry their weight. Beamer works for Lincoln Riley, a coach Tanner interviewed in December of 2015. It’s possible, if not likely, that Tanner has talked to Riley a couple of times regarding Beamer.
Chadwell is having a career season at Coastal as the Chants are unbeaten and ranked 15th. His read-option offense has been one of the nation’s best. Chadwell also built winning teams at North Greenville and Charleston Southern. Napier is a Furman grad and former Clemson offensive coordinator who is 25-11 in his third season and vying for his third straight Sun Belt West Division title.
Let’s spitball the name of North Carolina offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Phil Longo. He has the Tar Heels air-raid offense ranked #3 nationally at over 530 yards per game, and he has developed quarterback Sam Howell into one of the best passers in the country. Longo enjoyed the same kind of success in two years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss. He also has two years of head coaching experience at La Salle. At age 52, Longo is not too old in coaching terms, but he might not fit the youthful profile Tanner is seeking.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell sees his name mentioned for a lot of jobs viewed a superior to his current one. That includes USC’s opening. A couple of things to consider here. Campbell signed a contract extension last December supposedly tying him to the school thru the 2025 season. He was scheduled to make 3.7 million dollars this season, but the school is cutting $248,562 from his salary as a pandemic reduction. So, if Campbell is already making 3.7 million at Iowa State, it’s likely he wouldn’t leave for anything less than 4 million per season. Would the Gamecocks go that high? Muschamp was scheduled to make $4.6 million this season before his pandemic reduction. Campbell also had a buyout going into 2020 that would cost him (or a school that hires him) 6 million dollars. He is 31-27 at Iowa State including a 3-9 first season. He was 35-15 in five seasons at Toledo.
We’re told AD Ray Tanner would like to hire a younger coach with a strong offensive background, but the door is not closed to any qualified candidate. Our information the past week has been that Liberty coach Hugh Freeze won’t be considered due to his off the field and NCAA issues at Ole Miss. The university has hired a search firm to help with the background checks and other behind the scenes contacts with candidates and agents. AD Ray Tanner has his list of potential candidates including some recommended by a highly regarded NFL head coach. We’re told that some names passed along to Tanner include Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. As for other names to spitball, there’s Jamey Chadwell of Coastal Carolina, Billy Napier of Louisiana, Matt Campbell of Iowa State, Oklahoma assistant head coach and former Gamecock assistant Shane Beamer, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Las Vegas Raiders assistant head coach and former Gamecock assistant Rich Bisaccia.
How would you feel about Kansas City Chiefs highly regarded offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy being adding to the search list? You should feel pretty good. He’s one of the 20 or so names being studied by Ray Tanner as he continues his search for a new football coach. Bieniemy has been the offensive coordinator with the Chiefs since 2018 and has been mentioned for several NFL and college jobs. We all know how good the Chiefs are on offense. Bieniemy was third in the Heisman voting as a running back at Colorado in 1990 when he rushed for over 1600 yards.
Former USC assistant Rich Bisaccia, now the assistant head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and a veteran of four NFL coaching stops, would love to be considered for the job. He calls the USC job his dream job. He is in his 19th NFL season. He also has coached in college at Clemson, Ole Miss and his alma mater of Wayne State.
Louisville coach Scott Satterfield could draw a look as well. He’s 10-11 in his second season with the Cardinals and before that he was 51-24 at Appalachian State. He was to make $3.25 millon this season prior to any Covid-19 reduction.
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott also remains viable at this point. Elliott, as has been his practice, won’t entertain any overtures from other schools until Clemson completes its season at least thru the ACC Championship Game.
Thee is at least one member of the USC board, maybe more, who wants Tanner to visit with Liberty coach Hugh Freeze. That is not in the works at this point.
Tanner is using an individual from a search firm to help him make contacts with agents and do background checks on candidates. Contact has been made with the agent for Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer, and agents for other candidates have been contacted as well to gauge interest.
Tanner said at his press conference Monday that school president Bob Caslen would be instrumental in working with him on the search. Caslen played a major role in hiring Jeff Monken at Army. The plan is for Caslen to join Tanner for the in-person interviews with candidates when those are scheduled.
Tanner also pinpointed the December 16th early signing day as an endpoint for the search. It makes sense to figure he’d really like to have his coach on board at least a week earlier to allow for some staff organization and last minute recruiting. I would think around December 9th or 10th, of possible, Tanner would like to have his man.
In closing I have no faith in Tanner making a good hire here. But I Feel this search will be driven more by Caslen. Anyhow that is my prayer. Liberty coach Hugh Freeze or , Billy Napier of Louisiana.
let's start with Zoom press conference
USC AD Ray Tanner held a Zoom press conference with the media Monday morning. The 30 minute session opened with Tanner expressing his appreciation for Will Muschamp and his belief that Muschamp left behind a culture the new coach can build upon. Muschamp appeared emotional at times, especially when describing his conversation with Muschamp in which he delivered him the bad news. Tanner said he is a one man committee but will be working with USC President Bob Caslen and answering to him. His hope is to have a new head coach on board within the month. Tanner said he would like a young, offensive minded coach who can bring energy, enthusiasm and fun into the program, noting that the fun is in the winning. Tanner Sunday promoted offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo to interim head coach and said the former Colorado State head coach could be one he considers for the job.
the latest Grope ot the week
Three popular names being spitballed are Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer, Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell and Louisiana head coach Billy Napier. All three have supporters among USC board members. Beamer is a former Gamecock assistant and the son of Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer. He is viewed as a coach who would bring a CEO approach to the job who would hire an excellent staff and allow his to carry their weight. Beamer works for Lincoln Riley, a coach Tanner interviewed in December of 2015. It’s possible, if not likely, that Tanner has talked to Riley a couple of times regarding Beamer.
Chadwell is having a career season at Coastal as the Chants are unbeaten and ranked 15th. His read-option offense has been one of the nation’s best. Chadwell also built winning teams at North Greenville and Charleston Southern. Napier is a Furman grad and former Clemson offensive coordinator who is 25-11 in his third season and vying for his third straight Sun Belt West Division title.
Let’s spitball the name of North Carolina offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Phil Longo. He has the Tar Heels air-raid offense ranked #3 nationally at over 530 yards per game, and he has developed quarterback Sam Howell into one of the best passers in the country. Longo enjoyed the same kind of success in two years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss. He also has two years of head coaching experience at La Salle. At age 52, Longo is not too old in coaching terms, but he might not fit the youthful profile Tanner is seeking.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell sees his name mentioned for a lot of jobs viewed a superior to his current one. That includes USC’s opening. A couple of things to consider here. Campbell signed a contract extension last December supposedly tying him to the school thru the 2025 season. He was scheduled to make 3.7 million dollars this season, but the school is cutting $248,562 from his salary as a pandemic reduction. So, if Campbell is already making 3.7 million at Iowa State, it’s likely he wouldn’t leave for anything less than 4 million per season. Would the Gamecocks go that high? Muschamp was scheduled to make $4.6 million this season before his pandemic reduction. Campbell also had a buyout going into 2020 that would cost him (or a school that hires him) 6 million dollars. He is 31-27 at Iowa State including a 3-9 first season. He was 35-15 in five seasons at Toledo.
We’re told AD Ray Tanner would like to hire a younger coach with a strong offensive background, but the door is not closed to any qualified candidate. Our information the past week has been that Liberty coach Hugh Freeze won’t be considered due to his off the field and NCAA issues at Ole Miss. The university has hired a search firm to help with the background checks and other behind the scenes contacts with candidates and agents. AD Ray Tanner has his list of potential candidates including some recommended by a highly regarded NFL head coach. We’re told that some names passed along to Tanner include Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. As for other names to spitball, there’s Jamey Chadwell of Coastal Carolina, Billy Napier of Louisiana, Matt Campbell of Iowa State, Oklahoma assistant head coach and former Gamecock assistant Shane Beamer, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Las Vegas Raiders assistant head coach and former Gamecock assistant Rich Bisaccia.
How would you feel about Kansas City Chiefs highly regarded offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy being adding to the search list? You should feel pretty good. He’s one of the 20 or so names being studied by Ray Tanner as he continues his search for a new football coach. Bieniemy has been the offensive coordinator with the Chiefs since 2018 and has been mentioned for several NFL and college jobs. We all know how good the Chiefs are on offense. Bieniemy was third in the Heisman voting as a running back at Colorado in 1990 when he rushed for over 1600 yards.
Former USC assistant Rich Bisaccia, now the assistant head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and a veteran of four NFL coaching stops, would love to be considered for the job. He calls the USC job his dream job. He is in his 19th NFL season. He also has coached in college at Clemson, Ole Miss and his alma mater of Wayne State.
Louisville coach Scott Satterfield could draw a look as well. He’s 10-11 in his second season with the Cardinals and before that he was 51-24 at Appalachian State. He was to make $3.25 millon this season prior to any Covid-19 reduction.
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott also remains viable at this point. Elliott, as has been his practice, won’t entertain any overtures from other schools until Clemson completes its season at least thru the ACC Championship Game.
Thee is at least one member of the USC board, maybe more, who wants Tanner to visit with Liberty coach Hugh Freeze. That is not in the works at this point.
Tanner is using an individual from a search firm to help him make contacts with agents and do background checks on candidates. Contact has been made with the agent for Oklahoma assistant head coach Shane Beamer, and agents for other candidates have been contacted as well to gauge interest.
Tanner said at his press conference Monday that school president Bob Caslen would be instrumental in working with him on the search. Caslen played a major role in hiring Jeff Monken at Army. The plan is for Caslen to join Tanner for the in-person interviews with candidates when those are scheduled.
Tanner also pinpointed the December 16th early signing day as an endpoint for the search. It makes sense to figure he’d really like to have his coach on board at least a week earlier to allow for some staff organization and last minute recruiting. I would think around December 9th or 10th, of possible, Tanner would like to have his man.
In closing I have no faith in Tanner making a good hire here. But I Feel this search will be driven more by Caslen. Anyhow that is my prayer. Liberty coach Hugh Freeze or , Billy Napier of Louisiana.
