Shawn Elliott wraps up formal interview for USC job

The coaching carousel kept spinning Wednesday as South Carolina continued its search for a new head football coach.

Interim head coach Shawn Elliott, who was 1-5 after taking over for Steve Spurrier midway through the 2015 season, interviewed with athletics director Ray Tanner on Wednesday, according to a source with knowledge of the search. Elliott did not return a cell phone message left by The State on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, more names popped up in connection to the Gamecocks job, including 32-year-old Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Riley, a former Texas Tech quarterback, was East Carolina’s offensive coordinator for five seasons before joining the Sooners staff prior to last season. ESPN.com reported South Carolina had interest in speaking to Riley.

Former South Carolina assistant coach Shane Beamer, who currently is on the Virginia Tech staff, also could become a candidate.

Former Florida head coach and current Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp reached out to Clemson offensive co-coordinator Jeff Scott about the possibility of becoming his offensive coordinator on a staff at South Carolina, according to TigerIllustrated.com. Scott is the son of former Gamecocks head coach Brad Scott.

North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora is negotiating a contract extension with the school, InsideCarolina.com reported.

Former Georgia coach Mark Richt apparently went off the market Wednesday as well as multiple media outlets, including ESPN, reported he was close to finalizing a deal to become Miami’s next head coach. Richt was a backup quarterback for the Hurricanes in the 1980s.

South Carolina was among the schools that contacted Richt, according to ESPN.

Maryland hired former Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin as its head coach Wednesday.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 9:48 PM.