On Monday, South Carolina head coach Mark Kingston was fired less than 24 hours after the end of the Gamecocks season.

The Gamecocks finished the 2024 campaign 37-25 overall and 13-17 in the SEC after dropping six-straight games to end the regular season and going 1-2 in the Raleigh Regional. Over Kingston’s 7 seasons at the helm, he went 217-155 overall and 83-96 in the SEC, and led the program to 4 NCAA Tournament regionals, 2 super regionals, and zero College World Series appearances.

Kingston was named as an assistant to the 2019 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team as well. This has shown to not be enough and not the standard in which the South Carolina Gamecocks program expects, especially after winning back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011, and finishing runner up in 2012 when now athletic director, Ray Tanner, was the head coach.

After finishing with the best record of his six-season tenure (42-21, 16-13 in SEC), Kingston received a contract extension in mid August of 2023 for 2 years through the 2027 season, bumping his salary to $725,000, an increase of $125,000 from his original contract. He is due a buyout of $400,000.

Who’s next? As for who should replace Kingston and can rejuvenate the South Carolina baseball program to a yearly Omaha and title contender, after extensive research, I’ve compiled my list of the top candidates, in order, of who can best accomplish the feat.

Top Candidates

Josh Elander - Tennessee Assistant & Recruiting Coordinator

One of the preeminent assistant coaches in the country is currently in Knoxville in Josh Elander. In his 7 years at Tennessee under Tony Vitello. The former TCU star (Freshman All-America honors and USA Baseball Collegiate National Team member) was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 6th round in 2012 but had a short career in the minors. Afterwards, he was at Arkansas as a volunteer coach before going with Vitello from Fayetteville to Tennessee in 2017.

Elander has worn a lot of hats for the Vols, including third base coach, hitting coach, and catching coach, but the most important one is spearheading recruitment. Since his arrival, he’s guided Tennessee to six top15 recruiting class rankings (per Perfect Game), including a top 5 in 2023 and the number 1 class in the nation here in 2024 with nine top 100 commits. He’s coached 18 position players who’ve been drafted, including six in 2022 alone.

Despite losing all nine starters from the 2022 squad, the Vols still ranked as one of the nation’s top power hitting teams the following season, finishing 6th in home runs and 19th in slugging. He’s a players coach who truly builds relationships with the players and recruits and has a clear track record of getting high-level prospects to Knoxville consistently and producing.

His work ethic as a coach is directly correlated to his work ethic when he was a player. Tony Vitello raves about Elander and his importance to the success that they’ve had at Tennessee, saying “He’s skilled and he’s worked at so many parts of the game. He turned himself into a great defensive catcher. He was our biggest grinder in the cage when I coached him and he’s taken the time to learn the nuanced details of recruiting.

His presence, mentality and who he is as a person is actually going to trump a really strong skill set and make him the head coach that he will eventually be.” Alongside Vitello, Elander has completely rejuvenated the Tennessee baseball program to some of its best baseball in program history.

It’s only a matter of time before Elander gets a major head coaching job and this is a fantastic opportunity and timely one.

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Tom Walter - Wake Forest Head Coach

Given his track record and success of turning Wake Forest into a national program, Tom Walter makes a ton of sense to be considered for an SEC head coaching role. The 2023 Perfect Game Coach of the Year and 2023 ACC Coach of the Year took the Demon Deacons to the number 1 team in the nation heading into the postseason and to the College World Series semifinals in 2023. It was their first CWS appearance since the program's first national championship in 1955.

Walter has collected over 420 wins at the helm of Wake Forest in his 15 seasons. The talent that Walter has brought and developed at Wake Forest is extensive and sustainable. The improvements to the program as well have been incredible, as Wake Forest has the nicest and most advanced pitching lab in college baseball. Some say it’s better than several professional organizations as well.

The only issue would be that Walter just signed a contract extension after the 2023 season that is said to be around 5 years, $1 million a year, given that Wake Forest is a private school.

The Demon Deacons pitching coach, Corey Muscara, would be a top candidate to take over the Deacs, that is, if he didn’t go with Walter to South Carolina. I don’t think athletic director and two-time national championship head coach at South Carolina, Ray Tanner, would be opposed to this or bringing both at all.

Kevin McMullan - Virginia Assistant/Recruiting Coordinator

The Cavaliers associate head coach, Kevin McMullan is another candidate with a plethora of experience that should be considered. McMullan is in his 21st season at UVA, 18th as the associate head coach, and is known as one of the top recruiters and player developers in the country. He’s been named the top Division 1 assistant coach by Baseball America three times (2012, 2017, 2020) and the 2009 National Assistant Coach of the Year.

McMullan has helped guide the Cavaliers to 14 straight NCAA tournaments when he arrived, one of 15 programs to ever do that in 14 straight seasons. He helped lead the ‘Hoos to a national championship in 2015 after reaching the CWS finals in 2014. The Cavs have made 6 trips to the College World Series and won 8 regional championships, 3 ACC Coastal Division titles, 2 ACC Tournament titles, and racked up four 50-win seasons since 2010 while reaching the top of national rankings in four seasons.

The track record of success from McMullins and UVA has been on the backs of the offense where Virginia has led the ACC in batting over the last 15 years combined with a .302 team batting average. It hasn’t been just the hitting though, as the defense has shined under his lead with UVA owning the highest fielding percentage in the ACC since he arrived in Charlottesville in 2004 (.973).

In his 26 years as a collegiate coach, McMullan has guided over 100 players that signed with professional organizations, with 52 of his Virginia position players being selected in the MLB Draft and 17 reaching The Show and having successful careers. 3 Cavaliers were selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, the most by any program in the country. And for 5 consecutive seasons (2014-2018) in which the Cavs had at least one player selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

McMullan’s track record of success as a coach, recruiting, and player development is one of if not the most extensive of any non head coach in the country and would make him a fantastic fit for a head coach in the SEC and at a national power.

Chris Pollard - Duke Head Coach

The job that Chris Pollard is doing at Duke is spectacular. He’s been at the helm for 12 years and has turned the Blue Devil program that was in the shadows of other North Carolina schools, into a national power behind his strong recruiting, 6 NCAA Tournament appearances (last was 1961), 2 ACC tournament titles (2021, 2024, never had before), and 3 regional championships (2018, 2019, 2023, never had before).

To do that at a program like Duke goes to show how successful of a head coach he is and leaves to believe what he could do in the SEC and at a program like South Carolina. He was also in the mix last summer for the Miami head coaching job for a bit before the Canes hired J.D. Arteaga.

Pollard has coached 33 MLB Draft picks, guided 16 All-ACC selections, 4 Freshman All-Americans and 3 All-Americans. Pollard is the fastest Blue Devil head coach to reach 100 wins and has led the program to five 30-plus win seasons, something Duke has only had 10 times over the 110 prior seasons.

It’s clear that Pollard and his staff (specifically Josh Jordan) have done a fantastic job recruiting some talented players to Durham over other Carolina schools like North Carolina, South Carolina, N.C. State, Clemson, etc. With the resources and program that South Carolina is historically, there’s no reason to believe he can’t succeed in Columbia and compete for national titles.

Josh Jordan - LSU Assistant & Recruiting Coordinator

Speaking of Josh Jordan at Duke…One of the 2018 Assistant Coaches of the Year has a track record of success following him. Most recently, Jordan did an incredible job at Duke (2012-2022) and Appalachian State (2007-2012) under Chris Pollard. During his time at Duke, the Blue Devils had 33 players selected in the MLB Draft and a school record-tying 7 players in 2018.

Of those 33, 12 were selected in the first 10 rounds, which accounted for over a third of the program's total top 10-round picks. Although he wasn’t at the helm of the Blue Devils, a lot of respect and success is due to him as well. He was a recruiting coordinator since 2012 and Pollard promoted him to associate head coach & recruiting coordinator in 2015.

Jordan left for a job at LSU in the summer of 2022, where he helped lead the Tigers to becoming National Champions in 2023, working as the third base coach, as well coaching the Tigers’ first baseman and catchers. In those roles, he worked with Tre’ Morgan (3rd round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and CWS All-Tournament Team member) and Tommy White who transferred in from N.C. State and is the 15th best prospect in the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft.

It’s unsure if he would leave the LSU program so soon after only being there for two seasons but SEC head coaching jobs don’t open up that often so it could be enough to entice him. Jordan is also from Gastonia, N.C.

Dan McDonnell - Louisville Head Coach

Another coach who turned an average program into a national power is Dan McDonnell who has done so at Louisville during his tenure with the Cardinals, in 19 seasons. He’s be named National Coach of the year twice (2007 Baseball America, 2007 Rivals), 3-time ACC Coach of the Year (2015-2017), and owns the 3rd highest winning percentage among active Division 1 coaches at .698% and 3rd since being hired in 2007, both entering the 2024 season.

At Louisville, he’s led the Cards to 5 College World Series appearances and 4 Super Regionals finishes since taking over the program in 2007 where he was the first rookie head coach to lead his team to Omaha in 27 years. The Cardinals did however, miss the NCAA Tournament this season after finishing 31-24 and 10-20 in the ACC.

Furthermore, McDonnel’s signed a rolling contract for 7 years (through 2026), worth more than $1 million, reaching $1.5 million by 2028. McDonnell was an assistant at Ole Miss from 2001-2006 but with no news on what Ole Miss will do if anything with Mike Bianco, expect him to be in the mix of consideration for South Carolina with what could be his best shot at an SEC head coaching gig.

Skylar Meade - Troy Head Coach

Former South Carolina pitching coach, Skylar Meade (2018-2021), and current Troy head coach is one of if not the top former South Carolina coaches to be considered. Meade has done a great job at drastically improving the Trojans program into a winning program in their conference, however, they did miss the NCAA Tournament this season even going 37-22 overall and 18-12 in the Sun Belt Conference.

The former left-handed pitcher at Louisville who pitched in the College World Series in 2007 was at Michigan State as the pitching coach prior to South Carolina. What’s great about Meade is that I don’t believe he wouldn’t have any fear being in the gauntlet that is the SEC as a head coach and is a super confident leader.

During his time as the Gamecocks pitching coach, he made an immediate impact. Over his four years, 14 South Carolina arms were selected in the MLB Draft, 7 of those in the first 10 rounds, including 31st overall pick in 2020, Carmen Mlodzinski to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 2021, the Gamecocks had 6 pitchers drafted (tied with Arkansas for the most from any one school). The Gamecocks also had the 4th best ERA in the SEC. Expect South Carolina Athletic Director, Ray Tanner, to give Skylar Meade a call.

Landon Powell - North Greenville Head Coach

Another name at the top of the alma mater list for the South Carolina head coaching position is and should be Landon Powell. The Apex, NC native was the 2nd best high school prospect in the draft by Baseball America, but decided to go play at the University of South Carolina where he had a very successful collegiate career for four seasons.

Powell was a College World Series All-Tournament team honoree and is a member of the CWS all-time legends team. He also holds several school records, including 3rd all-time in games played for the program with 251. He was drafted 24th overall in the 2004 MLB Draft. In 2014, Powell was inducted into the University of South Carolina Hall of Fame.

Powell has been at the helm of North Greenville for 10 seasons now and has built the Crusaders program into a national power with a 391-130 (.750) record, 5 Conference Carolinas Tournament Championships, 4 regular season conference championships, 3 Southeast Super Regional appearances, and the 2022 Division 2 National Championship. For 4 straight seasons, North Greenville was the number 1 Division 2 team in the nation at one point during each season.

When Powell was hired in the summer of 2014, he inherited a program that just had a horrendous 8-35 season. The Crusaders were projected to finish last in their conference in 2015, however, Powell turned things around immediately as they won 30 games as well as the Conference Carolinas Tournament for the first time in program history. Talk about having a major impact on a program immediately.

Powell has done a fantastic job at recruiting high caliber players to a Division 2 program and has proven to develop them even further. The ties to the South Carolina program are obviously strong with his success as a player and now a coach, thus expecting him to be in the mix of consideration for the head coaching opening in Columbia.

Lane Burroughs - Louisiana Tech Head Coach

Another intriguing candidate who should be on the radar is Lane Burroughs. He’s led the Bulldogs to a regional in 3 of the last 4 seasons with two 1st place finishes in the C-USA. In his 7 seasons (excluding COVID 2020) he’s 267-155 (.633) overall and 130-74 (.637) in conference. His coaching success at La Tech is headlined by hosting a regional as the 16-seed in 2021, the first time in program history, coaching 29 All C-USA selections, and 8 All-Americans.

Burroughs does have some experience in the SEC as he was an assistant at Mississippi State from 2009-2012 where he was the recruiting coordinator under John Cohen. Burroughs did however, sign a contract extension with the Bulldogs in the summer of 2022 that is through the 2027 season.

Monte Lee - South Carolina Assistant Coach (named interim HC Monday)

A move that would be shocking to folks in the state of South Carolina and honestly all of college baseball only a couple seasons ago, former Clemson head coach Monte Lee being hired as the South Carolina head coach in 2024.

Lee started his coaching career as an assistant at Spartanburg Methodist College in 2001-2002. The 2001 team played in the NJCAA College World Series, while the 2002 squad recorded a school-record 51 wins. He was the head coach at the College of Charleston for 7 seasons (from 2009-15, leading the Cougars to a 276-145 overall record). He was a standout outfielder for the College of Charleston Cougars from 1996-99. In 2004, he was inducted as an inaugural member of College of Charleston’s Baseball Wall of Fame at Patriots Point Stadium.

Lee was the first position player drafted in CofC history when the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 39th round in the 1999 MLB Draft. He played 82 games over two years (1999-2000) in the minors. Lee then was hired as the head coach at Clemson in 2016. He was fired after the 2022 season where they went 35-23 overall and 13-16 in conference. They also missed the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight season after making it in his first four seasons, then the COVID year, then ending Clemson’s program run of 32 consecutive postseason appearances.

Lee went 242-136 overall and 102-86 in ACC play as the head coach at Clemson. First year Clemson athletic director, Graham Neff, stated "The expectations for Clemson baseball are very high," Neff said in a statement. "The team's recent on-field performance has not met those of our administration, our coaching staff, our student athletes or our loyal fanbase."

After that, Lee said he would only accept another college position if it was the perfect opportunity. When South Carolina head coach, Mark Kingston, called, he couldn't say no. Lee said "I made a promise to myself that the only way that I was going to take a college job was if it was something that absolutely 100% excited me. I was dead set on going into professional baseball until this came about...and I felt like this was just an opportunity that I will not turn down and I cannot turn down."

He also went on to talk about the South Carolina vs Clemson rivalry, one of if not the greatest college baseball rivalries in the country. "As far as the rivalry, my focus is very simple right now, and that is to help our players get better...and develop the type of winning culture that we need to compete at a high level," Lee said. "I know (the rivalry) is going to come up, but it's certainly not a focus of mine right now." Lee has been vocal that recruiting has always been one of his favorite parts of coaching, so he is excited to step back into a more direct role working with recruits and prospects.

He credits his aptitude for recruiting to his years working with former South Carolina assistant Jim Toman. "I was very active in recruiting for 14 years as a head coach ... and I love getting out on the road and finding talent and communicating with families. You've got to have good players if you want to be successful, so I'm excited about the challenge and the transition of going back to recruiting coordinator.”

Surprising to most, the South Carolina program then hired Monte Lee two months later in August of 2022 and named him the associate head coach/recruiting coordinator. Lee however, is no stranger to Columbia and South Carolina, as he was an assistant coach under Ray Tanner for the Gamecocks from 2003-2008.

During that time, he helped South Carolina to the NCAA Regionals in all 6 seasons, including a trip to the College World Series in 2003 and 2004, and Super Regional berths in 4 of his first 5 seasons. In his first season back in Columbia, he helped lead the Gamecocks offense to 117 home runs on the season (10th in the nation), a school record 107 hit by pitches, and 380 walks (2nd in the SEC).

After the firing of Mark Kingston midday on Monday, only a day after the end of the Gamecocks season, athletic director Ray Tanner later in the day named Monte Lee the interim head coach. The evidence supports that as the outpour of support on social media from players on the 2024 South Carolina team and recruits have been vocal.

Although his collegiate career is over, catcher Dalton Reeves posted this on X/Twitter.

Outfielder Kennedy Jones quoted Reeve's post saying this.

Several of the Gamecocks class of 2024 , including PJ Morlando, the top high school prospect in the country by Perfect Game and South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year, have voiced their opinions as well in support for Monte Lee as the next head coach for the University of South Carolina. Morlando posted as well on X/Twitter.

Other recruits and Gamecock signees who have voiced their support of Monte Lee as the new Gamecocks head coach consists of Brady Jones, Ryder Garino, Elijah Grant, Zach Russell, and Tyler June.

It’s clear that Monte Lee has a lot going for him to be named the next South Carolina Gamecocks head baseball coach, from his experiences at South Carolina, being named the interim head coach the same day head coach Mark Kingston was fired, connection and relationship with athletic director Ray Tanner, support from current and future Gamecock baseball players, and his strong ability to recruit, especially in the Carolinas.

Knowing Ray Tanner and his experience & success as the South Carolina head coach and now AD, expect him and the university to consider most of if not all of these strong candidates that I’ve outlined and to make a decision in the coming week or two. Stability at the helm of a national program like South Carolina is important, especially during the height of recruiting in the summer and ahead of the fall when the 2025 team gets to work.