Muschamp, Gamecocks hire equipment manager for football

South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp has hired Larry Waters from the University of Alabama to be the Gamecocks’ new equipment manager. Waters previously served as the assistant equipment manager for the Crimson Tide.

“There are a lot of things that go into that job,” Muschamp said. “It’s a very important job. Larry understands how we want to accomplish things, and I’m excited about him joining the staff.”

Waters will replace Chris Matlock, the longtime football equipment manager who was fired by Muschamp in April. Matlock was retained by athletics director Ray Tanner in an unspecified role in the athletics department.

Muschamp said he was looking for “somebody that understands how we are going to do things, which (Waters) does.” Equipment managers handle the team’s uniform and clothing distribution but also direct the team’s student manager workforce, which plays a large part in practice preparation.

A sellout crowd of nearly 400 people showed up at the SIMT Conference Center in Florence to hear from Muschamp, who delivered his traditional stump speech and then took questions from the crowd.

“It’s been great,” Muschamp told reporters before addressing the crowd. “We have a very loyal fan base and it’s great to get out and see them and show some appreciation for their support of our student-athletes.”

Muschamp also updated the health of quarterbacks Perry Orth (collarbone) and Lorenzo Nunez (knee), who both are on schedule for full participation in the team’s summer program beginning June 1. Defensive lineman Shameik Blackshear (gunshot injuries) will be able to lift weights and run this summer, Muschamp said.

Thursday night was Muschamp’s sixth stop on the Spurs Up Tour. He will make two more appearances next week, on Tuesday in Greenville and on Wednesday in Aiken. The last stop is May 24 in Charleston.

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 7:37 PM with the headline "Muschamp, Gamecocks hire equipment manager for football."