What They're Saying About Will Muschamp
Monday, December 13, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida's hiring of Will Muschamp to replace Urban Meyer caught some by surprise Saturday night. The 39-year-old Muschamp wasn't on everyone's radar, but he was the coach Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley targeted from the beginning.
Muschamp will officially be introduced as the 23rd head coach in Florida football history on Tuesday evening at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
A former walk-on safety at Georgia and well-respected defensive coordinator, Muschamp will return to Gainesville to take over one of the nation's elite programs. His hiring has drawn rave reviews from many in the state and national media who know Muschamp's reputation around college football:
“Some will make an issue of his youth. But genius work happens early. Arthur Miller wrote 'Death of a Salesman' at 30. J.D. Salinger wrote 'The Catcher in the Rye' at 30. Hey, Don Shula got his first head coaching job at 33.” (12/11/10)
--Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“He's a good, young and energetic coach. He's animated on the sidelines. He's been a big hit with fans. Will Muschamp is going to do a heck of a job. He's a guy that knows the SEC. I think he'll be fine. His pedigree and familiarity with the SEC is going to help him with recruiting.” (12/11/10)
--Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com
“He was already next in line at one of the Taj Mahals of head coaching jobs. But on Saturday, he landed perhaps the Taj Mahal. He knows the SEC. Muschamp was one of the finest assistant coaches he's (Nick Saban) ever had. Here's the other thing about Muschamp: He brings an edge, a degree of toughness or whatever you want to call it that this program can use right now. ” (12/11/10)
--Chris Low, ESPN.com
“There might not be many greener pastures than Texas, but Florida might be one of them, and it's easy to see Muschamp lusting after what is one of the top-five programs in the country.” (12/11/10)
--Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman
“Muschamp, 39, will dive into this job with the same crazy vibe he's always showed on the sidelines, stalking, screaming, slapping players on the helmet, and generally providing the same kind of fully-animated entertainment that Steve Spurrier once did as Gators coach. Recruits love a coach like this. Sooner or later this highly regarded assistant was going to get a shot at running his own show and everybody in the industry knew it. This is a smart hire, nabbing a longtime SEC man who knows how to recruit the South and who, even more specifically, spent several of his childhood years in Gainesville. Anybody who goes with Muschamp will have to be as tough as he is, and as driven. This is a coach who's been planning for this day for years and years, and training under very efficient mentors in Saban and Brown. At first glance, then, this looks like a winner.”(12/11/10)
--Dave George, Palm Beach Post
“As a 'coach-in-waiting' for one of the most plum college coaching jobs in America, there weren't many places that could convince him to leave Texas. Florida was one of them. Muschamp has a reputation as arguably the best defensive coordinator in college football and one of its best recruiters. He could have taken a head coaching job at any number of schools before Florida, but his wait and consistent excellence on the field and the recruiting trail have landed him a job just as prestigious as Texas. There was little that would have kept him from saying yes to the Gators. Florida will be getting everything it wanted in a coach. As a recruiter, look no further than Texas' 2011 class, which ranks No. 1 nationally and has four defensive members of the ESPNU150 currently committed. The recruiting pool will be just as deep in Florida. It (Florida) wanted a high-energy guy whom fans could get behind and be excited about. Uh, check. Florida took a leap of faith by hiring the 39-year-old first-time head coach, but there may not be a coordinator in the country more ready for his first stint, even if it's at Florida. Remember, Oklahoma took a chance once, too. In 1999, it took a leap of faith on some 39-year-old guy named Bob Stoops who was coordinating the defense at Florida and had never been a head coach, either.” (12/11/10)
--David Ubben, ESPN.com
“There are those who believe he is a future legend just waiting for the right campus on which to build his statue. He certainly has the look of a rising star. He is personable. He is driven. He is known for chest bumps and tirades on the sideline and for 16-hour days and relentless studying in the office. Muschamp sports a resume and pedigree that scream success.” (12/11/10)
--John Romano, St. Petersburg Times
"He is sound fundamentally. He is a hard worker with great instincts. Very demanding. We'll get after each other. He'll do a great job." (12/11/10)
--Jimbo Fisher, FSU head coach
“Muschamp belongs in the SEC. He makes opponents bleed. He makes himself bleed. He might have been the only man in the country Foley could have hired who is more intense than Urban Meyer. Muschamp will immediately take over a wealthy program with great facilities and excellent fan and administrative support that sits smack in the middle of a recruiting hotbed.” (12/11/10)
--Andy Staples, Sports Illustrated
“It's a great hire. They hired a Gainesville guy who knows defense, has an Urban quality and will bring fire to the program. They hired a guy who knows the league. They hired a guy who has won in The Swamp. They hired a guy who has learned from two of the best — Nick Saban and Mack Brown, not to mention Bill Oliver. This is a tough league, in case you hadn't noticed. SEC fans like to talk about how their league is the best in the land and then can't believe that they could possibly lose conference games. You have to have thick skin to coach in this league, and in Muschamp, Florida has found a guy who will be tough as nails.” (12/11/10)
--Pat Dooley, Gainesville Sun
“Florida's hire of former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp should help Florida in one of its most important areas — recruiting.” (12/11/10)
--Edward Aschoff, Gainesville Sun
“He is a great coach and will be a good fit for Florida. It's close to home for him and he knows the league well.'' (12/11/10)
--Mack Brown, Texas head coach
"This is a dream come true to be the head coach of the Florida Gators. I grew up watching the Gators and whatever other SEC team was on television. I have great memories watching SEC football with my father on Saturdays and playing football in the backyard with my two brothers right here in Gainesville. I'm eager to get to work and represent this great institution. I'm very thankful for the opportunity given me by President Dr. Bernie Machen and athletics director Jeremy Foley. I promise to bring a tremendous amount of passion and energy to work every day and my goal is to have our team bring the same type of attitude in everything we do both on and off the field. I want our team to play hard, with relentless effort and with toughness. We want to make the Gator Nation proud." (12/11/10)
--Will Muschamp, UF head coach
"We are thrilled to have Coach Muschamp lead our football program. When we started the search for our next head coach, we wanted a coach who was familiar with the Southeastern Conference. We wanted a candidate who was a relentless recruiter and was familiar with recruiting in the state of Florida. We wanted a candidate who was high energy and had been on the big stage. We wanted a candidate who was respected by his players and his peers and we wanted someone who had a passion for the University of Florida. Coach Muschamp is all of those things and more. He is a grounded family man with a wonderful wife and two children, and we welcome them into our Gator family.” (12/11/10)
--Jeremy Foley, UF athletic director
"Coach Muschamp is a great hire for the University of Florida. He is a relentless recruiter and brings a tremendous amount of energy and passion to the game. I would run into him on the road often on the recruiting trail and have always been impressed with him as a coach and a person." (12/11/10)
--Urban Meyer, departing UF head coach
