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After one of the most successful college coaching careers in history, now-former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier decided to hang it up in the middle of the season. The Head Ball Coach stated it was time to step aside and make way for a new guy to keep the Gamecocks headed in a forward direction.

In Spurrier’s absence, co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott filled the interim role to lead South Carolina for the remainder of the season.

But will Elliott be on the short list when the program starts evaluating permanent options?

According to ESPN’s Travis Haney, who cited sources close to the Gamecocks, the South Carolina coaching search is expected to focus on three potentical candidates – Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, Houston coach Tom Herman and Memphis coach Justin Fuente – with the potential for a fourth in Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez.

Smart has been a popular name during his entire tenure at Alabama, but he has yet to make the jump to the head coaching ranks.

Fuente is arguably the hottest coaching candidate in the nation right now, and Herman isn’t too far behind him in that regard.

Rodriguez’s name was tossed around plenty last year during hiring season.

With Spurrier having given South Carolina a slight taste of what competing for SEC titles is like, expect athletic director Ray Tanner to take a hard look at every possible candidate out there.

MORE: South Carolina Head Coaching Wish List