From UGA to Florida: Will Muschamp's rise

Sports

From UGA to Florida: Will Muschamp's rise

UGA fans felt betrayed when Will Muschamp, a long-time Georgia resident and former Bulldogs safety, took the coaching job at Florida, their biggest rival. He has quickly risen through the college ranks to land the head coaching job at one of the premier schools in the SEC and NCAA.

UGA fans felt betrayed when Will Muschamp, a long-time Georgia resident and former Bulldogs safety, took the coaching job at Florida, their biggest rival. He has quickly risen through the college ranks to land the head coaching job at one of the premier schools in the SEC and NCAA.

Muschamp has bounced around the South during his coaching career. After brief stints at smaller universities, he became LSU's linebackers coach in 2001 before being promoted to defensive coordinator the next year. In 2003, when the Tigers won the BCS championship, Muschamp's players led the nation in scoring and total defense.

After spending 2005 in the NFL as Nick Saban's assistant head coach, Muschamp returned to Auburn, where he had received his master's degree and worked as a graduate assistant. He spent two seasons as the Tigers defensive coordinator. During that time, his defenses ranked among the nation's top 10.

In January 2008, Muschamp became co-defensive coordinator at Texas, getting a contract with a $425,000 annual salary. This made him the highest paid assistant in the Big 12.

Eleven months later, the university announced he would eventually succeed Mack Brown as coach. His salary increased to $900,000 annually as a result of the move.

On Dec. 14, 2010, Florida held a press conference announcing Muschamp as its new coach. He received a $750,000 signing bonus, making the first year of his five-year deal worth more than $3.25 million. His average salary will be about $2.75 million annually.

Showing confidence is his first head coaching job, Muschamp hired Charles Weis as his offensive coordinator. The former Notre Dame coach has worked as an NFL offensive coordinator for New England and Kansas City.

In April, Muschamp kicked cornerback Janoris Jenkins off the team after his third arrest. Considering the team had had its share of legal problems under Urban Meyer, Muschamp didn't look at it as sending an early message. "I look at everything as an isolated situation," he said. "Each player will have to [act] right."

Muschamp watched his team scrimmage during the Orange and Blue game April 9. He had warned that it was "not going to be real flashy," and it wasn't, with the Blue squad winning 13-10.

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UGA fans felt betrayed when Will Muschamp, a long-time Georgia resident and former Bulldogs safety, took the coaching job at Florida, their biggest rival. He has quickly risen through the college ranks to land the head coaching job at one of the premier schools in the SEC and NCAA.

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