A total of ten out of the Southeastern Conference’s fourteen teams have made coaching changes, ranging from the minor (such as Arkansas losing a linebackers coach) to the major (such as Florida booting out its head coach and most of his assistants) to the potentially Gamecock-friendly (Georgia losing offensive coordinator Mike Bobo). At this point and time, South Carolina, Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee are the only abstainers in the coaching carousel.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has repeatedly stated that he may be open to changes on his coaching staff – but that no changes will occur until after signing day on February 4th, if at all. If any shakeups are made, they are expected to occur on the defensive side of the ball. South Carolina finished a deplorable number 13 in the SEC in defense this past season while going a mediocre 7-6 overall.

NOLA.com reported on Monday that John Chavis, a native of the town of Dillon in northeastern South Carolina, “pursued” a job at South Carolina before departing from LSU to take the open defensive coordinator position at Texas A&M. If Spurrier had any clue that Chavis desired to become his defensive coordinator and had any notion to replace current defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward, that likely would have been the time to act.

Chavis, 58, long has been one of the SEC’s top defensive coordinators, first at Tennessee under former Volunteers coach Phil Fulmer and then with the Tigers of Louisiana State. LSU finished eighth in the nation in total defense this year. If the Gamecocks wanted to replace Ward, and Spurrier has given no indication that he does, they likely will not find a better replacement than Chavis.

Chavis’ move still will have an impact on the Gamecocks in the 2015 season. South Carolina plays the Tigers, who still are looking for a defensive coordinator to replace Chavis, on October 10 in Williams-Brice Stadium and plays the Aggies on Halloween in College Station, Texas.

Tennessee is the only SEC opponent on South Carolina’s 2015 schedule yet to make a coaching change, with the most significant changes coming at Gamecock rivals Florida and Georgia. The Gators replaced coach Will Muschamp and most of his coaching staff with former Colorado State coach Jim McElwain. Colorado State responded by hiring away Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to be its coach.

Bobo led the SEC in the past four seasons in points per game among play callers, according to an analysis by CoachingSearch.com, and his Georgia offenses scored 35 or more points against South Carolina in four of the teams’ past six games.

If the Gamecocks don’t make any staff changes, 2015 will be their third consecutive season with the same coaching staff.

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INS AND OUTS

Only Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee have not made changes.

ARKANSAS

YOU'RE OUT: Linebackers coach Randy Shannon

STILL OPEN: Linebackers coach

AUBURN

YOU'RE OUT: Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson; cornerbacks coach Melvin Smith; safeties coach Charlie Harbison (according to 247Sports.com)

YOU'RE IN: Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp; cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson

FLORIDA

YOU'RE OUT: Will Muschamp and most of staff

YOU'RE IN: Head coach Jim McElwain; offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier; offensive line coach Mike Summers; tight end and special teams coach Greg Nord; running backs coach Tim Skipper; defensive coordinator Geoff Collins; co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Randy Shannon; defensive line coach Terrell Williams; defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan

GEORGIA

YOU'RE OUT: Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo; offensive line coach Will Friend

STILL OPEN: Offensive coordinator; offensive line coach

KENTUCKY

YOU'RE OUT: Offensive coordinator Neal Brown; safeties/special teams coach Craig Naivar

YOU'RE IN: Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson OPEN: Safeties/special teams coach

LSU

YOU'RE OUT: Defensive coordinator John Chavis

STILL OPEN: Defensive coordinator

MISSOURI

YOU'RE OUT: Defensive coordinator Dave Steckel

YOU'RE IN: Defensive coordinator Barry Odom

MISSISSIPPI STATE

YOU'RE OUT: Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins

YOU'RE IN: Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz

TEXAS A&M

YOU'RE OUT: Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder; offensive line coach B.J. Anderson; wide receivers coach David Beaty

YOU'RE IN: Defensive coordinator John Chavis; offensive line coach/run game coordinator Dave Christensen

STILL OPEN: Wide receivers

VANDERBILT

YOU'RE OUT: Offensive coordinator Karl Dorrell; defensive coordinator David Kotulski; wide receivers coach Marc Lubick

YOU'RE IN: Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig

STILL OPEN: Wide receivers coach; cornerbacks coach

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About the author
Ryan Fleming
Ryan writes for Garnet & Cocky, which is way better than VAVEL ever will be