South Carolina football: Gamecocks’ head coaching wishlist

LOWER ON THE TOTEM POLE

These names will certainly garner some interest, but it may take the Gamecocks swinging and missing on a couple of top targets for them to earn the job. Of course, we saw this last time around, with South Carolina missing out on both Kirby Smart and Tom Herman, after each seemed locked in to be the next Gamecock coach at one point or another. South Carolina eventually settled on Will Muschamp, so it’s not outside the realm of possibilities for one of these names to get a chance.

MIKE BOBO

Bobo’s interview starts this weekend against Missouri, as he’ll finish up the last three games in an interim role for the Gamecocks. Should the team succeed, he may be given a harder look.

Bobo has been the head coach at Colorado State, where he posted a record of 28-35 in Fort Collins. He’s also been an offensive coordinator at Georgia, and now, South Carolina. He’s definitely turned around a Gamecock offense that finished 104th in the nation last season, but he probably isn’t the top guy on the search list.

JEFF MONKEN

Monken has been mentioned due to his relationship with South Carolina President Bob Caslen. The current Army coach has revitalized a program that had won just eight games in the three years prior to his hiring.

Monken’s teams struggled through his first two seasons, going just 6-18, but he began to see progress in season three, and the program has now won 40 games in the last four and a half years. Those last four years include three bowl game appearances and back-to-back double digit win seasons. This year, the Black Knights are 6-2, and should be headed to the postseason once again.

Army installs a triple option offense, which would likely be unsuccessful in the SEC. There have been rumors, though, of Monken keeping current offensive coordinator Mike Bobo on staff, while bringing in his defensive coordinator Nate Woody to call the defense.

He obviously has success in turning around a struggling program, but as a defensive minded coach, Monken may be a little lower in the pecking order for the South Carolina administration.

WILL HEALY

Healy is in his second season with Charlotte, a program that just started playing football in 2013. After taking over a program just one year removed from a 1-11 campaign, Healy led the 49ers to a seven win season and appearance in the Bahamas Bowl.

This year, Charlotte is 2-3, with those losses coming to Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State, and Duke. His offensive mind is what has him drawing interest. His teams have averaged more than 28 points a game each year with Healy at the helm.

South Carolina may want to see him gain a little more experience in running a program before offering the head coaching position, though.

TONY ELLIOTT

Elliott has been with in-state rival Clemson since 2011, taking over as offensive coordinator in 2015. In his five seasons calling plays, the Tigers have finished in the top 20 of total offense four times. They’ve also reached the College Football Playoff in each of those seasons, twice taking home the national title.

Elliott certainly brings an offensive mind and strong recruiting background, but it’s unknown if he’d be willing to leave Clemson at the moment, and even if he did, he may have too much loyalty to Dabo Swinney to take on the South Carolina role.