South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier is trying to hire Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke to lead the Gamecocks defense next season, according to multiple sources.

This would be the third time Spurrier, since arriving at South Carolina, has attempted to lure Hoke back to the college game. Hoke was Spurrier's defensive coordinator at Florida from 1999-2001 and has coached in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears ever since. Spurrier reached out to Hoke upon arriving in Columbia in 2004 (hired John Thompson) and in 2007 (hired Brian VanGorder and ultimately Ellis Johnson).

Hoke has an outstanding reputation as a defensive mind and talent developer at the professional level and would be considered a homerun hire from an Xs and Os and personnel usage standpoint. He's coached under Lovie Smith and Dom Capers, among others, in the NFL and would likely bring a multiple front, creative defensive approach to the Gamecocks.

Any potential hire will take place after National Signing Day. The NFL coaching carousel is spinning and with Hoke's former boss Gary Kubiak getting the Denver Broncos job, there is a chance he could end up staying in the league and heading to Denver.

Sources indicate that Hoke very likely would retool the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. It is unknown which coaches will be retained or which will possibly be reassigned within the South Carolina football program.

South Carolina was 7-6 in 2014 and struggled on the defensive side of the ball.