Des Kitchings was in the Gamecocks facility in March. But he had to wait to join the staff
Des Kitchings was spotted in South Carolina’s football facility in early March after a practice.
But he wouldn’t be able to call himself a Gamecocks football coach for another month and a half.
“I came down, I think it was a practice for the fifth practice of spring ball, just before spring break,” Kitchings said. “Just came out and watched and came back to Raleigh, just kind of going about things on a normal basis. Then obviously quarantine hit. The next I know, I’ve receiving a phone call from coach Muschamp.”
Kitchings hasn’t been able to see that football facility since his official hiring late last week. He hasn’t even been able to hold a meeting with his new position group, as the staff has shut down meetings for finals week.
And the conversations between Muschamp and Kitchings go well beyond the past few weeks.
“This goes back to February when the first communication started,” Kitchings said. “With Coach Muschamp and myself. And after that, he even invited me back for spring practice, if I was available.”
At the time, North Carolina State had not retained Kitchings after one season as co-offensive coordinator. It appeared as if then-receivers coach Bryan McClendon might jump to the NFL, and Muschamp wanted to be prepared.
But McClendon didn’t leave then and only departed recently for an opening at Oregon.
The chance to come to Columbia means a homecoming for Kitchings after eight seasons in Raleigh.
He grew up in Wagener, less than an hour drive from the university campus. He still has family there, and he didn’t go far for college, matriculating and later starting his coaching career at Furman before making the jump to the SEC at Vanderbilt.
“Both my parents are retired and still living there Wagener,” Kitchings said. “I have a younger sister that lives in Wagener, and older sister that lives in Charleston, in the Hanahan area. So you know, I’ve always come back home in recruiting because I’ve always included some past of South Carolina in a chance to see them.”
So when the offer came, Kitchings wasn’t one to hesitate.
“Man, it was easy to say yes,” Kitchings said.
