USC coach Darrin Horn on hot seat after program-worst 10-21 season
Before South Carolina’s season ever started, it was marred with controversy.
With starting point guard Bruce Ellington missing most of the non-conference schedule to play football, and two top returners transferring to other programs, coach Darrin Horn wasn’t expected to have a good season.
But with a 57-63 loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament, South Carolina put an end to its worst season in program history, finishing 10-21 on the season with a 2-15 SEC record. Now, the ball is in Athletics Director Eric Hyman’s court, as he must decide on whether Horn will be coach for next year. The two will meet for an end-of-season evaluation that is customary after every season for every team’s coach.
“My thing right now is that we’re committed to building our program,” Horn told reporters after the loss. “That’s going to start with, now that our season’s over, hitting the recruiting trail immediately as the rules allow. We’ll sit down and it’s customary at the end of all seasons to visit. But we’re going to keep plugging forward and doing what we have been doing to be committed to building our program.”
If Hyman opts to fire Horn, USC will owe him $800,000 for each year remaining on his contract, totaling $2.4 million. At USC, Horn has a 60-63 overall record and has never won a postseason game. The Gamecocks have never gone to the NCAA Tournament in Horn’s four years as head coach.
Despite the lack of checks in the win column, Hyman has preached patience. In an interview with The Daily Gamecock on Feb. 14, Hyman referenced the lack of success USC coach Steve Spurrier had in his first years as coach, but with time, the team achieved 11 wins for the first time in program history this season, having more wins than the basketball team in just 13 games.
“In [USC basketball coach Darrin Horn’s] first year, he tied for the SEC East,” Hyman said. “In [USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley’s] first year, she won 10 games. Dawn had not had experienced players, and Darrin had more experienced players. Now, the experience is gone, so we’re at the bottom working our way up. Dawn’s built a program because she’s gotten some more experience. What she’s doing with women’s basketball has been absolutely terrific.
“There are some things that have never been accomplished here when you look back through it, like the football team this year — they did things that have never been accomplished before. That’s what we’re trying to do, and the time lines are different with different sports.”
Horn will only be losing senior Malik Cooke, though if Ellington decides to play football again next season, he will miss most of non-conference play again. Furthermore, Horn only has one incoming freshman after two players decommitted.
“I think when you look at some of the guys that stepped up and played really well, that’s a NCAA Tournament team we lost to just now,” Horn said after the loss to Alabama. “We’re on the floor with a bunch of young guys that are only going to get better and smarter and stronger and all of those things, so we think there’s some positive things going from that aspect.”
The team has also experienced a dip in attendance with a depreciating record, as paid attendance has averaged 8,868, though actual attendance is undoubtedly lower.
“I’m not mad at the fans,” said USC President Harris Pastides in an interview with The Daily Gamecocks on Feb. 6. “In fact, I believe to break the cycle, I don’t think it’s the fans who are going to start pouring back in to help the team to win. I think it’s going to be the team having to knock off a strong opponent.”