Confirming reports from early Sunday morning, South Carolina officially announced Will Muschamp as its new head coach on Sunday afternoon.
Muschamp arrives in Columbia after a worse-than-expected season as Auburn’s defensive coordinator. Prior to that, of course, he was Florida’s head coach from 2011-14. He led the Gators to a 28-21 record in his four seasons in Gainesville, posting an 11-2 record with a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2012 but finishing below .500 in his three remaining seasons.
It's official! Introducing our new Head Coach, Will Muschamp! #Gamecocks 🏈 pic.twitter.com/mx2w2HAbrS
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) December 6, 2015
Reports say Muschamp is approaching South Carolina in much the same way he held the Florida job -- at least from a staffing standpoint. Former offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson are reportedly set to join Muschamp in Columbia.
South Carolina’s Muschamp hiring stays firmly within the lane SEC East athletics directors have created for themselves. In a division where most of the head coaching roster is either a defensive mind (Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Missouri’s Barry Odom, Kentucky’s Mark Stoops and Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason) or a former Nick Saban disciple (Smart and Florida’s Jim McElwain), Muschamp checks both boxes.
Will that be enough to out-duel Florida, Georgia and Tennessee -- not to mention CFP semifinalist Clemson?
Only time will tell.