Will Muschamp set to return as Auburn defensive coordinator
AUBURN, Ala. — After nearly two weeks of rumors, it's finally official: Will Muschamp is returning to Auburn. The news broke Friday night and was first reported by AuburnUndercover.com, with a similar story quickly following from Sports Illustrated.
The hire was confirmed by an Auburn athletic department official Friday night.
The athletic department itself then sent out an official release touting Muschamp's hire, which included a brief comment from the newest member of the Tigers' coaching staff.
"My family, Carol, Jackson, Whit, and I are excited about coming back to Auburn and I look forward to working with Coach Malzahn to win championships,” Muschamp said in a statement.
Gus Malzahn was also pleased to have the search come to a close.
“I’m excited to welcome Will back to Auburn as our new defensive coordinator,” Auburn's coach said. “Will is one of the top defensive minds in college football who has great passion and energy for the game. He is a tremendous addition to our staff.”
Muschamp, the former Florida coach, was the fan favorite from the moment the position opened up. That came Nov. 30. One day after Auburn allowed 55 points in a defeat to arch-rival Alabama, the Tigers dismissed defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson after two seasons on the job.
Auburn wasn't the only team vying for Muschamp's services, however. SEC rivals Texas A&M and South Carolina also reportedly were interested in making him the next defensive coordinator at their schools. And according to the Houston Chronicle, Muschamp recently interviewed for the University of Houston's vacant coaching job.
Muschamp was a coaching free agent after being fired by Florida last month following a 23-20 overtime loss at home to South Carolina. Even knowing he wouldn't be back next year, Muschamp elected to finish out the regular season, with the Gators posting a 6-6 mark and earning a bid to the Birmingham Bowl, where they will face the East Carolina Pirates on Jan. 3. In four seasons at Florida, Muschamp compiled a 28-21 record. The high-water mark was an 11-2 campaign in 2012.
But in the past two seasons, things quickly unraveled, as the Gators went 10-14. Ultimately, his undoing was the offense. In his four years at Florida, the team never ranked better than 54th in the country in scoring offense. The Gators found it even more difficult simply moving the ball, as its best total offense ranking under Muschamp was 91st.
The defense, not surprisingly, had no such issues, ranking among the top 10 nationally in total defense the past four years.
The new defensive coordinator is no stranger to Auburn. Muschamp also served as the Tigers' defensive coordinator on Tommy Tuberville's staff, directing the unit in 2006-07.
Both seasons saw Auburn field a stingy unit.
In 2006, the Tigers finished seventh in the nation in scoring defense (13.9 points per game). The next year, they gave up slightly more points (16.9), but still ranked sixth-best nationally and first in the SEC. Auburn was every bit as fierce in the yardage department in 2007, giving up just 297.92 per game, which also ranked sixth in the FBS and second in the conference, trailing only an LSU squad that went on to win the national championship.
After departing Auburn, he became Texas' defensive coordinator, guiding the Longhorns from 2008-10. In those three seasons, Muschamp had immense success. In that three-year stretch, Texas ranked first in the nation in sacks (119), third in rushing yards per attempt (2.9), fourth in rushing yards per game (96.7) and seventh in total defense (297.4 ypg).
Despite being just 43 years old, Muschamp is already a well-traveled coach. Aside from his stops at Florida, Texas and Auburn, Muschamp has also worked at West Georgia (1998), Eastern Kentucky (1999) and Valdosta State (2000). It was after helping Valdosta State to a Gulf South Conference title in 2000 that he received his first big break, as he was brought on to coach LSU's linebackers under Nick Saban in 2001. He served in that role for one year before taking over as defensive coordinator in 2002. He stayed in that position until 2004, when he made the leap to the NFL when Saban took over the Miami Dolphins.
Muschamp jumped into the coaching ranks immediately after graduating from Georgia, joining Terry Bowden's Auburn staff as a graduate assistant in 1995. That followed a four-year career with the Bulldogs, walking on as a safety in 1991 and eventually earning a scholarship. He also excelled in the classroom, as Muschamp was named to SEC's academic honor roll in 1993.
Now, he's back on the Plains for a third go-round.
Though exact terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, ESPN's Joe Schad reported the native of Rome, Ga., is set to make between $1.6 and $1.8 million per year, which would make Muschamp the highest-paid assistant in college football.
What Muschamp's hire will mean for Auburn during the postseason is uncertain. On Sunday, coach Gus Malzahn said he still wasn't sure who will coordinate the defense as it prepares for a Jan. 1 matchup against Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.
If Muschamp doesn't immediately jump in to help game plan for the bowl, it is likely the defensive play-calling duties would fall to Charlie Harbison. In addition to coaching the Tigers' safeties, he also held the title of co-defensive coordinator when Johnson was still on the staff.
This story was originally published December 12, 2014 at 9:56 PM.