Georgia head coach Kirby Smart brought former Bulldog Will Muschamp back to his alma mater this offseason after his dismissal as South Carolina’s head coach in 2020.
Muschamp’s son, Jackson Muschamp, serves as a reserve UGA quarterback and his eldest son, Robert Muschamp, is also a Bulldog, serving as a defensive assistant.
While Muschamp’s role with the team was listed as an analyst, that all changed when UGA special teams coach Scott Cochran took a leave from the team to focus on his health this summer. That slotted Muschamp right into the thick of things as the Bulldogs new special teams coordinator.
In his weekly press conference on Monday, Smart discussed Muschamp’s role and gave an update to where exactly he will be performing his coaching duties on Saturday night.
“He has been a tremendous asset,” Smart said. “I can’t express the move to get him on board, and how important it has been — especially considering our situation with being an on-field coach. He has brought a jolt of energy to special teams and an extra set of eyes on the defensive backfield.”
“He’ll operate on the sidelines and make a lot of the signals on special teams,” Smart said. “He’ll also help out our defensive backs.”
Muschamp served as Florida head coach from 2011-2014 before spending one year at Auburn as defensive coordinator and most recently, head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2016-2020. Muschamp is known for his defensive prowess, especially in the defensive backfield, but will try his hand at special teams where Georgia has been dominant during Smart’s tenure.
The Bulldogs return possibly the best kicking game in the country behind the legs of senior punter Jake Camarda, who was named the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2020, and junior place kicker Jack Podlesny, who finished as a semifinalist for the 2020 Lou Groza award, given to the nation’s top kicker.
“UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton” is back! This week J.C. is joined by college football analyst Josh Pate to answer questions surrounding Georgia football and break down what to look for versus Clemson! Listen here: