Bryan McClendon, Pat Washington added to South Carolina football staff

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp just added someone with a bit of head coaching experience to his staff, a man who was named 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year in 2014.

South Carolina announced the addition of former Georgia assistant and current interim head coach Bryan McClendon as the Gamecocks co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, and longtime SEC staffer Pat Washington as the tight ends coach. Jamie Speronis also was retained in his football operations role.

McClendon, a Georgia alum, served as the Bulldogs’ running backs coach, wide receivers coach, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator in seven seasons at the school. He was also recruiting coordinator in 2014-15, is credited with closing on five five-star prospects in the past six years and was named 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year in 2014.

He took the interim head coach role after Mark Richt was let go and will coach the Bulldogs in the TaxSlayer Bowl against Penn State.

McClendon is credited with recruiting Georgia stars Nick Chubb, Keith Marshall, Isaiah Crowell and Todd Gurley -- all running backs, as well as linebacker Lorenzo Carter.

“Bryan is an up-and-comer in the coaching profession,” Muschamp said in a release. “It says a lot about his abilities as a coach to be named the interim head coach for the Bulldogs in their bowl game.”

McClendon is the son of former Georgia tailback Willie McClendon, the 1978 SEC Player of the Year.

Washington was a longtime member of Phil Fulmer’s staff’s at Tennessee, coaching wide receivers there for 11 years. He’s been part of a national title squad and since leaving Knoxville, he coached at Kansas State, tutoring NFL star Jordy Nelson, Mississippi State, Southern Mississippi, Kentucky and most recently Missouri.

“Pat brings a wealth of experience in the SEC,” Muschamp said. “He will bring a lot of intangibles to our coaching staff.”

Speronis has handled football operations at South Carolina for the past 11 seasons.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Bryan McClendon, Pat Washington added to South Carolina football staff."