New challenges for Mangus, Botkin at S.C. State

The chartered flights have been replaced by long bus rides. Instead of having access to the latest technology, finding a computer can often become a chore. In spite of the challenges, G.A. Mangus and Kirk Botkin are thankful to be doing what they love, coaching football.

The two former South Carolina assistants, under Steve Spurrier, found a new home at South Carolina State after not being retained by new Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp.

Botkin and Mangus said they had interest from other programs, but both have kids and decided to stay in the Columbia area and coach at the FCS level rather than move and force their children to attend a new school.

Botkin played in the NFL and had previous coaching stints at the high school level, at FCS programs and in the SEC. Mangus spent several years coaching Division III football before stops at Middle Tennessee State and South Carolina.

The two are pleased with their decision and said, no matter what level of football, the goals remain the same.

“The venue’s change where you play, how you get places changes sometimes a little bit, but you’re still dealing with kids, trying to get them to do right, both on and off the field, trying to get them to execute better each week,” Botkin said. “If you look at what’s in front of you and not what’s behind you, it’s just kids playing football. That’s one reason that I’m here. I just love coaching football. It’s fun.”

S.C. State’s last game at Louisiana Tech was a good reminder that this isn’t the SEC.

A weather delay kept the game from starting until about 11 p.m. Saturday. The 53-24 loss ended around 2 a.m. Sunday, and after loading everything up, the Bulldogs arrived in Orangeburg around 4 p.m. following about a 12-hour bus ride.

S.C. State plays at Clemson at noon on Saturday.

“I coached in Division III for 11 years, so riding buses and doing some of that is stuff I’m used to. It’s not something I haven’t done before,” Mangus said. “It’s kind of fun to be back kind of scrambling around and organized chaos. … I knew I was going to coach this fall, at some point in time. I didn’t want to sit at home. I’m not one of those guys that can sit at home. It’s a great opportunity and I’m glad to be here.”

Botkin was hired as the defensive coordinator, while Mangus was originally named a quality control coach, but is now coaching tight ends and serving as the offensive coordinator.

Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough, a former USC assistant under Lou Holtz, said he couldn’t pass the opportunity to add Botkin and Mangus to his staff .

“Both guys are fantastic football coaches first, and then you add that they’re mature guys who have seen the ins and outs of how things ought to be done, how things should be done when you’re trying to compete against some of the schools we’re trying to compete against. I think they give us a sense of understanding some of the things that are common and customary in the game,” he said.

Botkin and Mangus both mentioned the opportunity to coach with Pough as part of what attracted them to S.C. State.

Pough entered the season with a 112-51 record, including an 87-24 mark in the MEAC. His teams won at least a share of the conference title in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014.

“They have a long tradition of playing good defense here and winning a lot of championships. There’s good people here. I’ve never taken a job for money. I’ve always looked at, ‘Do you have a chance to win and do you enjoy going to work every day?’ That’s the two big things for me,” Botkin said. “It’s a special school. Coach Pough is a great coach to be around, and they’ve won a lot of championships here.”

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 9:34 PM with the headline "New challenges for Mangus, Botkin at S.C. State."