UPDATE: USC put out a release Friday afternoon, with this statement from offensive line coach Shawn Elliott, who reportedly interviewed Thursday for Alabama’s vacant offensive line job …
“It was a great honor to be considered for a coaching position at the University of Alabama, but I feel it’s in the best interest of me and my family to remain at South Carolina. We’ve had a lot of success here over the past three years and I’m committed to being part of that continued success for many years. I’m proud to be a Gamecock.”
HERE’S THE ORIGINAL POST ABOUT THIS FROM THURSDAY NIGHT …
South Carolina offensive line coach Shawn Elliott interviewed Thursday for the same job at Alabama, according to CoachingSearch.com, which cited an unnamed source.
Alabama coach Nick Saban is trying to fill the vacancy left by Jeff Stoutland, who became the offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles last Thursday. Stoutland earned $395,000 at Alabama. Elliott received a raise after the 2011 season, from $185,000 to $300,000.
Elliott just finished his third season as USC’s line coach. He had the same job at Appalachian State, his alma mater, from 1997-2009. That is his only previous coaching experience.
At USC, he helped usher in zone read option plays, which Appalachian State used. The Gamecocks began using zone read schemes in the 2011 season, to take advantage of quarterback Connor Shaw’s mobility, and his familiarity with the option game, from his high school days.
USC has already lost one assistant coach this offseason. Defensive line coach Brad Lawing left for the same job at Florida, because of unspecified family reasons. USC coach Steve Spurrier replaced him with North Carolina’s Deke Adams.
Elliott last season was tied with Lawing and wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. for the second-highest paid assistant on USC’s staff. Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward was the highest paid, at $550,000.
Elliott is also one of USC’s most effective recruiters. USC landed eight recruits in the Class of 2013 who received four of five stars from Rivals. Elliott got two of them, including the highest-rated overall recruit in USC’s class, outside linebacker Larenz Bryant of Charlotte, N.C. Elliott landed four other three-star recruits.
Rivals lists him as USC’s primary recruiter for five Class of 2014 players who are ranked in the top 100: athlete Elijah Hood of Charlotte (No. 12), offensive tackle Donell Stanley of Latta (No. 34), offensive tackle Bentley Spain of Charlotte (No. 86), offensive tackle Steven Moss of Fredericksburg, Va. (No. 89) and wide receiver Shaq Davidson of Gaffney (No. 96).
Elliott is a native of Camden, which is 35 miles northeast of Columbia.