One interesting name to watch in South Carolina’s OC search
South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp needs this offensive coordinator hire to work.
He’s coming off a 4-8 season and set to give a third man the reins of his offense in five years at USC. If this offense doesn’t deliver and the season again goes awry, his time in Columbia could easily be done.
His last hire was a neophyte, Bryan McClendon, who had never called plays and followed a strong first season with one that bottomed out. Based on the situation and the fact coaches often hire someone who contrasts with the coach just dismissed, it’s likely the next hire will be a steady veteran hand.
Maybe that will be an up-and-comer, but it could perhaps be someone with a longer track record.
Granted, it would be going back to the University of Georgia well, but an interesting option might be Mike Bobo — should he be let go by Colorado State. (The Rams were 4-8 this season in Bobo’s sixth as the head coach.)
One of the more productive passers in UGA history, Bobo’s career in Athens had two years of overlap with Muschamp on the roster. Bobo had small roles with the Bulldogs program after graduating, spent one year at FCS Jacksonville State and then returned with Mark RIcht, coaching quarterbacks for six years and becoming coordinator from 2007-14.
His UGA offenses were generally strong, boosted by the high talent level that always seems to flow to Athens. He then moved on to Colorado State, and while the overall success wasn’t there (28-35), the offense was generally productive, usually in the top 30 or 40 in yards per play, twice in the top 15.
They got the ball to NFL-level wide receivers they recruited to a mid-major program and played balanced, maybe even running the ball a tad more than needed.
His background in power offenses early in his Georgia tenure might mesh well with Muschamp’s outlook of establishing the run. He ran some higher-tempo stuff in Fort Collins. The productivity has generally been solid, which is better than USC has had since the Spurrier era.
With Muschamp, there has often been a push toward up-tempo offense, but some worries when the pass game wasn’t balanced out by a group that could run when it needed to. Muschamp spoke about getting to the run early in each of the past two seasons.
Muschamp has some options going forward. He likely has to build around quarterback Ryan Hilinski, an accurate thrower who isn’t much of a runner. His backups are the speedy Dakereon Joyner and a sturdy dual-threat freshman in Luke Doty.
Much about the program’s future will rest on who takes over for McClendon. Bobo might not be the answer, but he’s an interesting option, fitting the mold of a seasoned coach with a style that could mesh well with his coach.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
