South Carolina coaching search: Three names to watch

South Carolina’s coaching search will speed up now that the season is finished. Here are three names to watch.

Kirby Smart

Who: Alabama’s defensive coordinator

Why: The Crimson Tide is No. 3 in the country in scoring defense in Smart’s ninth season at the school. He has been Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator for the last eight seasons. Smart has never been a head coach.

Tom Herman

Who: Houston’s head coach

Why: The Cougars are 11-1, No. 21 in the nation and headed to the American Athletic Conference championship game in Herman’s first season. Herman made his name as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer.

Larry Fedora

Who: North Carolina’s head coach

Why: The Tar Heels have won 11 straight games since losing to South Carolina in the season opener, and they will play Clemson in Saturday’s ACC Championship game. Fedora also won double-digit games as Southern Miss’ head coach in 2012. He’s a former Oklahoma State OC.

This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 5:30 PM with the headline "South Carolina coaching search: Three names to watch."