Will Muschamp is heading back to Austin, and this time, it’s not just a reunion-it’s a reset.
The 54-year-old veteran coach, who’s made stops at some of college football’s biggest programs, is returning to Texas as the Longhorns’ new defensive coordinator. It’s a familiar role for Muschamp, who held the same title in Austin from 2008 to 2010. Now, after nearly a decade and a half of experience-including head coaching stints and SEC championship runs-he’s back where his star once rose.
Muschamp most recently served as a defensive analyst at Georgia, his alma mater, after co-coordinating one of the most dominant defenses in the country in 2022 and 2023. His return to Texas comes as Steve Sarkisian makes a bold move, parting ways with Pete Kwiatkowski despite a defense that ranked 36th nationally in total yards allowed per game.
“Having the opportunity to hire Will Muschamp provides us the leadership to take our defense to another level,” Sarkisian said. “Will is a guy I’ve known for a long time, always admired, and is as good of a defensive mind and coach as I’ve ever coached against.”
That’s high praise from Sarkisian, and it speaks to the kind of impact Texas is hoping Muschamp can make as the program prepares for life in the SEC. This isn’t just about familiarity-it’s about pedigree.
Muschamp brings with him a résumé that includes stops at Auburn (three times), Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. He’s been a head coach in the SEC, led elite defenses, and coached in some of the biggest games in college football.
In a statement released by Texas, Muschamp echoed the excitement: “This is an exciting day for the Muschamp family. We loved our time in Austin and truly enjoyed everything about working with Texas Football. We’re thrilled to be coming back to a program with one of the richest and proudest histories and traditions in college football.”
There’s no question Muschamp knows what it means to coach at Texas. When he was hired by Mack Brown in 2008, he was named head coach-in-waiting-an indication of just how highly the Longhorns valued his leadership.
But before that succession plan ever played out, he left to take over as head coach at Florida. His four-year run in Gainesville included a standout 11-2 campaign in 2012, but inconsistency ultimately led to his dismissal.
From there, Muschamp returned to Auburn as defensive coordinator in 2015, then took the head coaching job at South Carolina. His most successful season with the Gamecocks came in 2017, when they finished 9-4. But back-to-back disappointing campaigns in 2019 and 2020 led to his exit.
Now, after five years in Athens-where he helped build one of the most feared defenses in recent memory-Muschamp is back in burnt orange. And while the move might have caught some off guard, especially given Texas’ solid defensive numbers this past season, Sarkisian clearly sees this as a chance to raise the bar even higher.
For Muschamp, it’s a return to a place that once saw him as the future. For Texas, it’s a calculated swing aimed at building a defense capable of contending in the SEC. And for college football fans, it’s another chapter in the career of one of the sport’s most respected defensive minds.
The Longhorns are betting big on experience, familiarity, and a proven track record. And if Muschamp can tap into the same fire that once made him one of the hottest names in coaching, Texas might have just made one of the most impactful hires of the offseason.