The first axe has fallen in major college football. South Carolina decided on Sunday to part ways with head coach Will Muschamp. This week on the College Football Gametime Podcast we visit with long-time Gamecocks beat writer Josh Kendall. Josh was great, as he always is, so check out the interview this week. Let’s take a closer look at some of the potential candidates to be the next head coach in Columbia.
Jamey Chadwell – Charleston Southern
Chadwell played quarterback at East Tennessee State University from 1995-1999. He ended up an assistant on Joe Moglia’s staff at Charleston Southern. When Moglia was forced to take a medical leave. Chadwell was the guy that stepped up to be the interim coach. He did a pretty good job on the field; off the field he’s had some issues. Josh Kendall told us this week that he thought South Carolina would avoid hiring Hugh Freeze because of the baggage he brings. Chadwell, isn’t quite at the level of Hugh Freeze when you talk about indiscretion, but he’s had his share issues with the NCAA. Charleston Southern had to forfeit 18 wins and a 2015 Big South Championship. Chadwell played multiple ineligible players and used scholarship funds to purchase electronics and jewelry from the school bookstore. Chadwell was the finalist at several head coaching jobs in the Southern Conference in the past including Chattanooga and Furman. Both of those schools passed believing that Chadwell’s NCAA violations were a bit too much to bring in. South Carolina has the compliance and the personal to keep Chadwell on the straight and narrow, but will his past keep him from being a serious contender for an SEC position.
Billy Napier – Louisiana
He’s been an assistant at both Clemson and Alabama. Napier is a native of Chatsworth Georgia and was a fantastic high school football player at Murray County High School. Napier is clean from an NCAA standpoint and would seem to be the early front runner for the job. In two-plus season he’s 25-11, including a 7-1 mark this season at Louisiana. Napier is the more known entity among all these potential candidates. Unlike Freeze or Chadwell no NCAA violations in his past. A strong pedigree having worked for both Nick Saban and Dabo. He’s coached longer at the Bowl Subdvision level than either Chadwell or Healy.
Will Healy – Charlotte
Josh Kendall told us this week that South Carolina was looking for an offensive coach and a guy with passion. Will Healy brings both. Healy has created “Club Lit” at Charlotte. When the 49ers secured their first bowl bid last year it was a shirtless Healy who danced on top of a table at “Club Lit” (aka…the locker room) while his players chanted and cheered around him. Healy brings an offensive mindset and certainly a lot of swagger with his players. A Chattanooga native, Healy played quarterback at Richmond. Took over a terrible program at Austin Peay and turned it around quickly. 7-6 and a Bahama’s Bowl Birth in year one in Charlotte. In an effort of full discloser, I’ve known Will Healy since he was a 14-year old high school freshman, starting for his school as a 9th grader. Heck of a guy, from a great family. Clean as a whistle when it comes to the NCAA. Healy will get his big shot in the ACC or SEC sooner than later.
Hugh Freeze – Liberty.
I know that Josh said he didn’t think it would happen. But I do think that it is worth mentioning Hugh Freeze. The guy just wins everywhere he goes. Going back to his days as the Head Coach of Briarcrest Christian school in west Tennessee. He spent four years at Ole Miss. Several recruiting and academics violations forced Ole Miss to vacate 27 wins and suffer a two-year post-season ban. It was also discovered at Freeze was using his government issued cell phone to call escort services, multiple times over a five-year period. So how bad to you want to win? Freeze turned Ole Miss into a contender in the SEC West and seemed to have Nick Saban’s number for a year or two. South Carolina fans want to win and the hiring of Freeze might not sit well with some in the SEC office but if you want to win and win the press conference with the fan base Hugh Freeze is the guy.
We’ll have more on the search for South Carolina’s new football coach on Saturday on College Football Gametime. We’ll also visit with the voice of the Ohio State Buckeyes Paul Keels. So make plans to join Jon Chuckery, Randy McMichael and myself, Saturday from 9am to 12-noon on Sports Radio 92-9 The Game.