Steve Spurrier pleased with USC’s choice of Will Muschamp

Steve Spurrier is pleased with South Carolina’s choice for his successor.

“I think Will and his staff will do very well,” said Spurrier, the Gamecocks’ winningest coach who resigned in October, creating the opening the school filled with Will Muschamp this week.

“He’s a well respected defensive coach,” Spurrier said. “For whatever reason down at Florida the offense never quite got going, but I’m sure he learned a lot and he’s ready to go.”

Muschamp is expected to retain only one of Spurrier’s assistant coaches – offensive line coach and interim head coach Shawn Elliott.

“Obviously I wish several of our assistants were kept, but he’s got the right to pick whoever he wants,” Spurrier said. “We do have some outstanding coaches who are available now. Most of those guys were there all through the 11-2 years so hopefully they will land somewhere soon.”

Spurrier’s sons Steve Jr. (wide receivers coach) and Scott (offensive quality control) were on Spurrier’s staff and have yet to determine where there next job will be, Spurrier said.

“That’s part of the profession that we all know about when we get in it,” Spurrier said. “If you stay somewhere a long time, you’re fortunate.”

Spurrier, who is in New York for National Football Foundation’s annual awards dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, returned his final payment from the school, a check for more than $70,000, to the Gamecock Club in the form of a donation, a source told The State.

“I’ll find something to do here pretty soon that’ll take up some more time,” Spurrier said. “I am completely at peace that I made the right decision.”

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Steve Spurrier pleased with USC’s choice of Will Muschamp."