The coaching carousel in the Southeastern Conference extends far beyond the search for head coaches as assistant coaches and even off the field assistants are often coveted by other programs around the league.

Will Muschamp’s South Carolina program suffered a few departures over the weekend as Matt Lindsey, the Gamecock director of recruiting, left for Ole Miss and Gamecock defensive line coach John Scott Jr. left for the same role at Penn State after one season in Columbia. Lindsey is expected to be named GM for Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss program.

Credit Muschamp for quickly finding replacements for each, as South Carolina’s coach reached over to Rocky Top to find his latest two hires.

Former Tennessee director of player personnel Drew Hughes has been hired by Muschamp to replace Lindsey, as first reported by Keith Allsep of the Locked on The Gamecocks Podcast. This will be the second time Hughes and Muschamp have worked together as Hughes served under Muschamp during the coach’s time as Florida’s head coach.

Muschamp then turned around and hired former Tennessee defensive line coach Tracy Rocker to replace Scott as the new Gamecock defensive line coach, as first reported by 247Sports.

It should be noted that Rocker’s contract at Tennessee had expired on Jan. 31, 2020. It’s not clear if he had the option to return to Tennessee for next season but when you consider the status of the Volunteer defensive line Rocker inherited and the production he got from the unit the previous two seasons, there’s no doubt Muschamp is hiring one of the better defensive line coaches in the SEC.

Now Pruitt once again has an opening on his coaching staff as he did earlier this offseason when running backs coach David Johnson left for FSU and inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer left for the New York Giants. Pruitt hired Tennessee graduate Jay Graham to replace Johnson, moved Brian Niedermeyer to inside linebackers coach and promoted Joe Osovet as the new tight ends coach.