Decision to demote McClendon and fire Werner ‘difficult’ but necessary, Muschamp says
Moments after USC’s season ended with a 38-3 loss to Clemson, coach Will Muschamp promised changes were coming, and he didn’t take long to act on that pledge.
The next day, news leaked out that offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon was being relieved of play-calling duties and quarterbacks coach Dan Werner and strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman were being let go entirely.
McClendon has a reputation as a strong recruiter, and before he was promoted to OC in 2017, he was considered a rising star in the coaching profession. His deal with South Carolina is set to pay him $1 million through 2020. If he stays at USC and isn’t named co-offensive coordinator, that would make him one of the highest-paid non-coordinator assistants in college football.
Speaking at the introduction of new offensive coordinator Mike Bobo on Monday, Muschamp said he “was working through” titles and positions for McClendon moving forward, but praised how he handled the demotion.
“He’s handled it like he handles everything — first class,” Muschamp said.
“Bryan’s an outstanding football coach, he’s an outstanding receivers coach, he’s an outstanding offensive coordinator, you know, and there were some things that were out of Bryan’s control this year that occurred on our offensive football team that he had nothing to do with, and that made it very difficult to be as productive as we needed to be,” Muschamp added. “But he understands the profession, and that’s part of it. But he’s going to be an outstanding offensive coordinator again, he’s going to be a head coach ... he’s going to be really successful in everything he does.”
Still, when Bobo was asked how much control he’ll have over the offense, he seemed to indicate that he’ll be the primary person in charge of the offense.
“There’s one head coach and that’s coach Muschamp,” Bobo said, “and, you know, we’re gonna put together a plan for us to be successful. But I’m an offensive coordinator and he’s trusted me into getting our staff ready, on the same page and our staff ready to teach our concepts to our players who go out and execute them on game day. Accountability is going to be on me.
“There’s gonna be certain things that as a head coach that you’re gonna demand of your program, and I think that’s being physical and tough, but as far as, being worried about coach getting on the headphones and saying run this or run that, I’m not worried about that at all. ... He hired me to do a job, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”
As for the departures of Werner and Dillman, Muschamp offered more praise but said the moves were necessary for the program to advance. A new strength and conditioning coach is expected to be announced Wednesday after the USC board of trustees approves the contract.
“We’re still working through that process, and I think those are all difficult decisions,” Muschamp said. “At the end of the day, I’ve got to make decisions on what I think is best for our organization. We talk to our players about it all the time, and it’s the same with our staff, and those are the decisions. And none of them are easy — very difficult. Those are two professionals and outstanding men, and I hate that sometimes those things have to happen.”
Werner was hired by USC in January 2018 after stints at Ole Miss and Alabama, as well as UNLV, Louisiana Tech, James Madison, Murray State and Miami. He oversaw Jake Bentley’s career year in 2018 and was an integral piece in Ryan Hilinski’s recruitment to Carolina, as well as that of commit Luke Doty.
Dillman, who spent four years with Muschamp at South Carolina and three at Florida, has also had stops in his career at Alabama, LSU, Appalachian State and IMG Academy. According to USA Today’s database of coaching salaries, he was the 12th highest paid strength coach in the country in 2019.
The Gamecocks’ offense was decimated by injuries in 2019, while the defense was hit hard in 2018, though Muschamp repeatedly defended Dillman and his training program by saying most of the injuries were not to “soft tissue,” where the conditioning program is focused.
