A look at a name not mentioned in South Carolina football coach research.
The search for the South Carolina head coach began about three weeks ago, after then leader Will Muschamp left on November 15. Since then, several names have been associated with the opening.
When the original odds were revealed about who would be wandering the sidelines in Columbia next season, we saw coaches like Billy Napier, Shane Beamer, Hugh Freeze, Jamey Chadwell, Steve Sarkisian, Joe Brady and even rival offensive coordinator Tony Elliott mentioned as possible substitutes for Muschamp.
Although things have heated up and cooled down for some of these candidates, there is a name that few speak of as a legitimate candidate, although he may be at the top of the list of what many believe.
West Virginia coach Neal Brown is loosely connected to the South Carolina debut, although he has denied any interest. Here’s what he said at a news conference when asked about the position earlier this week.
“I really don’t try to address all the rumors and everything out there, because I think you’re going to get involved in a web, because I don’t think there is any way to keep up. But very simple – I am not a candidate there. “
While it is easy to accept the denial as true, it is even easier to see why he would want to keep any interest a secret, as he has a team trying to end the rest of the 2020 season, as well as a recruiting class he is trying to organize to the next year.
And although most of the noise surrounding the search for training revolved around Oklahoma assistant Shane Beamer those close to the Gamecock program stated that Beamer’s Big XII counterpart is attracting a lot of interest, too, with the school hoping to make an appointment.
Brown is in his second season with West Virginia, having set a record of 10-10. This year, he has the Mountaineers sitting 5-3, presenting the conference’s second-ranked attack, as well as the league’s top-scoring defense. The team has at least one player among the top three passers, rushers and recipients of the Big XII.
Before his time at Morgantown, Brown led Troy to three consecutive seasons of 10 wins and three consecutive bowl wins. In 2016, his Trojans almost defeated the eventual national champion Clemson, before defeating LSU and Nebraska in the next two seasons.
In six seasons as head coach, Brown posted an overall 45-26 mark. That experience has him firmly in the mix and, if selected, could be the reason for his race victory over Beamer, who was never a head coach at any level.
Brown’s experience at the SEC didn’t hurt either, as he played and coached SEC rival East Kentucky (OC / QB coach).
Time will tell which way the South Carolina government will decide to go, but one thing is certain: Neal Brown has a chance to get the job, if he wants to. Gamecocks are hoping to have the coaching search closed in mid-December, looking to have a candidate in place in just a few weeks.