Will Muschamp’s South Carolina football staff almost complete
South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp has hired seven of the Gamecocks’ nine on-field assistant coaches.
No one has been specifically tabbed as quarterbacks or defensive line coach. Muschamp also has not determined whether Ellis Johnson will serve in an on- or off-field capacity.
The in-progress group:
Offensive coordinator: Kurt Roper
Last stops: Roper is currently an offensive assistant with the Cleveland Browns. He served as offensive coordinator in Muschamp’s final season as Florida’s head coach. He also served as Duke’s offensive coordinator before being hired by Muschamp.
Offensive line: Shawn Elliott
Last stop: Elliott has spent the past six years as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach under coach Steve Spurrier. Elliott was interim head coach for six games in 2015 after Spurrier’s resignation.
Running backs: Bobby Bentley
Last stops: Bentley returns to the state of South Carolina after two seasons as an offensive analyst at Auburn under Gus Malzahn. Prior to Auburn, Bentley was the head coach at Byrnes High in Duncan, where he was one of the most successful high school coaches in the country.
Wide receivers/co-offensive coordinator: Bryan McClendon
Last stop: McClendon held several titles during Georgia’s 2015 regular season, including wide receivers coach, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator. He is currently interim head coach of the Bulldogs and will serve in that capacity through Georgia’s bowl game. From 2009-2014, he was the Bulldogs’ running backs coach. McClendon also served as recruiting coordinator in 2014-15 and is regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters.
Tight ends: Pat Washington
Last stops: A 28-year collegiate coaching veteran, Washington has 18 years of experience under his belt on four different SEC staffs, including an 11-year stint as wide receivers coach at Tennessee (1995-2005). He has served as Missouri’s receivers coach since 2013.
Defensive coordinator/defensive backs: Travaris Robinson
Last stops: Robinson, who is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country, has spent the past five seasons coaching defensive backs under Muschamp, first at Florida (2011-14), then at Auburn (2015).
Linebackers/special teams: Coleman Hutzler
Last stop: Hutzler coached special teams and outside linebackers for Muschamp at Florida in 2014 and then had the same responsibilities at Boston College last year. The Eagles led the nation in total defense with 254.3 yards allowed per game this season.
Defensive line: TBD
Other staff
▪ Jeff Dillman: Strength and conditioning coach
▪ Cedric Williams: Strength and conditioning assistant
▪ Jamie Speronis: Associate athletics director, football operations
▪ Clyde Wrenn: Director of high school relations
▪ Robbie Liles: Director of player personnel
▪ Marcus Lattimore: Life skills/football student-athlete development
▪ Andre Goodman: Director of football student-athlete development
▪ Ellis Johnson: TBD
This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 9:43 PM with the headline "Will Muschamp’s South Carolina football staff almost complete."