Former UGA quarterback added to USC coaching staff. Bobby Bentley changes roles
After Mike Bobo was hired as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator, there was plenty of buzz he might try to bring on his former assistant and quarterback Joe Cox.
On Thursday, Will Muschamp announced how that will happen.
Cox will join the staff as tight ends coach, a role he held at one point with Colorado State. Bobby Bentley will move from the tight ends role to coach quarterbacks under Bobo, and defensive assistant Kyle Krantz will move back to an off-field analyst role.
“It was very evident to me and talking to Mike that he wanted somebody to be with him that he trusts and knows and understands the concepts and things that he wants taught,” Muschamp said. “We brought Joe in in December and spent three or four days with him, realized very quickly why Mike wanted him here.”
Cox worked with tight ends and wide receivers in his time in Fort Collins, Colorado. He played quarterback for Bobo at Georgia, starting in the 2009 season. He threw for 2,584 yards that season and led UGA to a 8-5 record.
He also played for Dutch Fork High School coach Tom Knotts at Independence in Charlotte, going 31-0 as the starter there.
“I appreciate Coach Muschamp giving me this opportunity and I’m excited about continuing to work with Coach Bobo,” Cox said in a statement. “We have a long history together — first at Georgia, then at Colorado State. I’m also looking forward to getting back to the South and the places where I’m most comfortable. I am anxious to get started working with this staff, the group I have this spring, and adding more quality players to the tight ends room.”
In Colorado State, he developed several solid tight ends, including Columbia product Cameron Butler out of Ridge View High School. Last season, he oversaw wide receiver Warren Jackson blossom into a 1,119-yard player, while Dante Wright had 805 yards and added something to the running game.
In hiring Cox, Muschamp fell back on his own experience joining staffs and inheriting a full complement of someone else’s assistants. Cox gives Bobo someone he knows and works with in the building.
“Going in as a coordinator and having the entire staff remain, it’s hard,” Muschamp said. “You’re the only guy there. You’re teaching not just the players but the coaches in a lot of situations.”
Muschamp faced that situation at Auburn in 2006 and Texas a few years later. When he went to Auburn following his Florida tenure, he brought Travaris Robinson in as an assistant.
Bentley was long regarded as a quarterbacks guy through a highly successful high school coaching career. His son, Jake, started for three seasons for the Gamecocks. Muschamp said Bentley will assist Bobo with quarterbacks and allow the offensive coordinator more flexibility on gameday.
Krantz was promoted to the 10th assistant spot from an off-field role in January of 2018. He worked with nickels and helped with the secondary. Muschamp will take over those duties in addition to his work with safeties. Muschamp also made a point to say Krantz’s coaching and recruiting were not part of the reason for the change, but the move had to be done to open a spot for Cox.
Muschamp does not see any more changes coming for the staff at the moment, he said.
If this is the last move, his staff won’t look all that different from last year outside a new face at the top of the offense, one of his lieutenants and familiar faces in new roles. Much might ride on those choices, as South Carolina’s offense needs to shape up to avoid back-to-back down years. The coach sounded like a man who listened to his new coordinator and liked his newest addition.
“Just very personable, very sharp,” Muschamp said of Cox. “Got a great work ethic, all the things you’re looking for as far as the intangible qualities are concerned. Obviously I trust Mike and his judgment.”
South Carolina’s on-field coaching staff
Will Muschamp - Head coach
Mike Bobo - Offensive coordinator
Travaris Robinson - Defensive coordinator/secondary coach
Bobby Bentley - QB coach
Thomas Brown - Running backs coach
Bryan McClendon - Wide receivers coach
Eric Wolford - Offensive line coach
Joe Cox - Tight ends coach
John Scott Jr. - Defensive line coach
Coleman Hutzler - Special teams/inside linebackers coach
Mike Peterson - Bucks/outside linebackers coach
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 11:03 AM.
