Report: Houston's Tom Herman nearly took South Carolina job

Tom Herman signed a contract extension with Houston in December, but he may have had one foot out the door a couple weeks earlier.

Herman was close to becoming the head coach of South Carolina in November, but the Gamecocks' loss to The Citadel on Nov. 21 changed his mind about the job, Dan Wolken of USA TODAY Sports reports.

According to two sources familiar with the negotiations, Wolken reports a deal between Herman and South Carolina was so close that the school's administration "essentially" ended its coaching search, believing it had secured its first choice to replace the resigned Steve Spurrier and interim coach Shawn Elliott.

However, the loss to the FCS Bulldogs reportedly convinced Herman he would have to undertake a huge rebuild at South Carolina, so he opted to sign a new contract with Houston.

The Gamecocks eventually turned to Auburn defensive coordinator and former Florida boss Will Muschamp to fill their head coaching vacancy in a move that lacked the fanfare Herman would have brought.