College Football Coaching Changes: Ranking the best hires

Oct 15, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Auburn Tigers assistant coach Will Muschamp looks on during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Auburn defeated Kentucky 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

9. South Carolina Gamecocks – Will Muschamp replaces Steve Spurrier

South Carolina had plenty of time to target their successor to Steve Spurrier after his sudden resignation/retirement in the middle of the season. But athletic director Ray Tanner took his time after failing to land Kirby Smart, Mark Richt or lure Tom Herman away from Houston.

The best South Carolina could do was former Florida head coach Will Muschamp who was fired after four years in Gainesville. I’m in the minority in thinking Muschamp is a solid hire and thinks he can be a consistent eight-win coach, but I also think it’ll take two-three years before Muschamp has South Carolina ready to compete for the SEC East.

He had great defenses at Florida and he should at South Carolina, but I have serious concerns about how the offense will look because that was his downfall at Florida when he went through three offensive coordinators in four years.

His offensive coordinator his final year at Florida was Kurt Roper and that’s who Muschamp hired to run South Carolina’s offense, so I’m skeptical that marriage will work.

Players are referred to boom-or-bust players and I think that applies to Coach Boom at South Carolina. He either learns from his demise at Florida and gets the Gamecocks to the top of the SEC East or he’s fired in three years after winning 15 games. Is he more of a risk than a coach with zero head coaching experience?

Next: Mike Norvell