COLOMBIA, SC – The wave that took players out of South Carolina’s soccer program at a worrying pace took two coaches on Thursday.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and offensive line technician Will Friend, who had two-year contracts approved this week by the school’s board of trustees, abruptly left Gamecocks to take on the same jobs in Auburn.
Combined with a hiring class ranked 100th in the country, nine players recently joining the transfer portal and a still-defensive coordinator position, it was a difficult month for coach Shane Beamer’s first year, who was hired on December 6 to replace Will Muschamp. Auburn also hired one of the top candidates for the position of defensive coordinator for South Carolina, as former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason accepted the Tigers position on Thursday afternoon.
“I have great respect for coach (Bryan) Harsin, both as a coach and as a person,” Bobo …