Around a week ago, South Carolina’s defensive coordinator search took a turn towards former Stanford DC and Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason, and since then it’s been a waiting game to see what would ultimately happen.
Along the way, there has been some optimism on the part of South Carolina that it could eventually land Mason, but there was also a recognition that he had multiple other options and that there would be a waiting period to find out what he wants to do. As of this writing, there’s still be no definitive word on that front, and as of later yesterday Mason had not been ruled out internally.
We have previously reported on a couple other facets of the search that we will reiterate here. First, there are others still “on the list” here, although we’re still working to uncover precisely who those candidates may be. We have already reported that a candidate that we heard from day one – UNC’s Jay Bateman – is not going to happen, with the administration in Chapel Hill choosing to make him a top priority to keep.
Secondly, let’s dive a bit more into the other options that Mason does have, according to several in the industry that we have spoken with over the last several days. One of those is to quite simply sit out, take some time away from coaching, and see where things fall in the future. That’s something that Mason has discussed with multiple folks. We brought up in another recent report that Atlanta Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris has expressed some interest in Mason as a defensive backs coach, and we’re told that would remain the case if Morris either lands the permanent head job or a defensive coordinator role at a different NFL organization. Mason has also fielded some inquiries from other major programs such as LSU. That job, by the way, is one that’s actually had some difficulty in luring its top targets from what we hear.
There’s another coaching slot on defense, but there’s a reason that it has not been filled. Again, the defensive coordinator hire is going to have input into the process/signing off on the final hire on that side of the ball.
Torrian Gray is still a major candidate for that slot, but that’s not done and also depends on how things shake out with the defensive coordinator situation
We’ll report back with more information on the defensive front once we hear.
*** In other news on the former Gamecock coaching front, we can confirm from multiple sources that former head coach Will Muschamp did turn down an opportunity to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff in Texas.
A past edition of coaching notes in this space revealed that the most likely scenario for Muschamp is to perform an off-field role at Georgia for a year, and that remains the projection here at this time.
*** Former defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson remains a strong candidate to join the Florida staff, although the dynamic in Gainesville is still being shaped. There’s still some buzz within the industry that Todd Grantham could leave for another job if he gets an opportunity.
*** Former strength and conditioning coordinator Paul Jackson is expected to take the same role at Utah State in the near future.
Along the way, there has been some optimism on the part of South Carolina that it could eventually land Mason, but there was also a recognition that he had multiple other options and that there would be a waiting period to find out what he wants to do. As of this writing, there’s still be no definitive word on that front, and as of later yesterday Mason had not been ruled out internally.
We have previously reported on a couple other facets of the search that we will reiterate here. First, there are others still “on the list” here, although we’re still working to uncover precisely who those candidates may be. We have already reported that a candidate that we heard from day one – UNC’s Jay Bateman – is not going to happen, with the administration in Chapel Hill choosing to make him a top priority to keep.
Secondly, let’s dive a bit more into the other options that Mason does have, according to several in the industry that we have spoken with over the last several days. One of those is to quite simply sit out, take some time away from coaching, and see where things fall in the future. That’s something that Mason has discussed with multiple folks. We brought up in another recent report that Atlanta Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris has expressed some interest in Mason as a defensive backs coach, and we’re told that would remain the case if Morris either lands the permanent head job or a defensive coordinator role at a different NFL organization. Mason has also fielded some inquiries from other major programs such as LSU. That job, by the way, is one that’s actually had some difficulty in luring its top targets from what we hear.
There’s another coaching slot on defense, but there’s a reason that it has not been filled. Again, the defensive coordinator hire is going to have input into the process/signing off on the final hire on that side of the ball.
Torrian Gray is still a major candidate for that slot, but that’s not done and also depends on how things shake out with the defensive coordinator situation
We’ll report back with more information on the defensive front once we hear.
*** In other news on the former Gamecock coaching front, we can confirm from multiple sources that former head coach Will Muschamp did turn down an opportunity to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff in Texas.
A past edition of coaching notes in this space revealed that the most likely scenario for Muschamp is to perform an off-field role at Georgia for a year, and that remains the projection here at this time.
*** Former defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson remains a strong candidate to join the Florida staff, although the dynamic in Gainesville is still being shaped. There’s still some buzz within the industry that Todd Grantham could leave for another job if he gets an opportunity.
*** Former strength and conditioning coordinator Paul Jackson is expected to take the same role at Utah State in the near future.
