Dismissing a head coach is never an enjoyable situation, but it occurs many times every year in sports.

Unfortunately for the Florida Gators, it became a reality Sunday morning as athletic director Jeremy Foley informed Will Muschamp the program will move in a different direction at the end of the season.

But Muschamp earned respect throughout 2014.

Orlando Weekly columnist Mike Bianchi told Saturday Down South this month that Muschamp didn’t hide from questions after any of the tough losses and never snapped at the media.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley and Will Muschamp both spoke at a team meeting Sunday afternoon, not all that common just hours after the former fired the latter. Foley “actually got choked up speaking about how much he cares for Muschamp,” a current Florida player who attended the meeting said in a text to SDS.

RELATED: Will Muschamp out at Florida

The fourth-year coach couldn’t overcome the lack of positive on-field results.

These last two seasons have been difficult times for Muschamp and his family, which has endured a 4-8 season in 2013, a home loss to Georgia Southern and the “Fire Muschamp” chants earlier this season.

During these stressful periods, however, everyone got a glimpse of Muschamp’s true colors through his handling of what otherwise has been an awkward situation.

His comments on Sunday proved that.

“I was given every opportunity to get it done here and I simply didn’t win enough games — that is the bottom line,” Muschamp said in the school’s statement. “I’m disappointed that I didn’t get it done and it is my responsibility to get it done.”

RELATED: Foley, Muschamp release statements on coaching change at Florida

Of course, this kind of ownership and accountability shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have followed Muchamp closely during his time with Florida.

His laid-back, down-to-earth personality also perceived him as an approachable person to Florida fans.

Despite his intense demeanor on the field, you could tell his players and those around the program all had close relationships with Muschamp.

Because he cared.

It’s one of the reasons why athletic director Jeremy Foley was so patient with Muschamp even after a 4-8 season. He was beloved around the program and it showed in the way Foley talked about his embattled head coach.

I will be forever grateful to Will and his staff for their unwavering commitment to the University of Florida and the mission of our athletic program. He will be missed by everyone in our athletic department – from the people that worked in his office to the people that painted the fields. Will knew everyone and they knew him and everyone in the building loved working with him. Will is as fine a man as you will ever meet, and I will always cherish our relationship with him and his family.

As much as an athletic director and a head coach can be during a situation like this, Foley and Muschamp’s relationship still seems close. The two genuinely cared for each other over these last few years and that’s led to a rare appreciation for each other even with the dismissal of Muschamp hovering over the two’s friendship.

If you ask Florida fans, the consensus in regard to Muschamp is one of frustration with the poor play, but generally sympathetic toward him because of how much fans liked him as a person.

And it was easy to like him.

Maybe it was “Bill from Gainesville” back in September when Muschamp called into the Gator Hotline show when Foley was the guest.

“I was just listening to Mr. Foley sounding so at ease, he’s just more entertaining than coach Muschamp. My request is that he would take the rest of the fall on the Gator Hotline for the Gators fans,” Muschamp joked.

RELATED: Who are Jeremy Foley’s first calls to replace Will Muschamp?

Or maybe it was when he poked fun at himself following Florida’s big upset win over Georgia as he jokingly said to reporters “let me lift this thing off my back,” referencing his prior three-game losing streak to the Bulldogs.

It was his first Cocktail Party win as either a player or coach, but Muschamp was quick to evoke a little self deprecation even in the midst of a big win.

“They’re probably not going to put me in the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame,” he said to a chorus of laughs, “but maybe I’m on the ballot.”

Maybe it was when times were rougher in 2014, like when half of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium chanted in unison, “Fire Muschamp!” Despite his laid-back exterior off-the-field or even his intense demeanor on-the-field, he reminded of the emotional impact that kind of negativity or hostility can have on a coach or on his family around him.

“Well you’ve got to get home and explain to your 9-year-old why they’re chanting to fire your dad,” Muschamp said back on Oct. 27. “But, again, my family understands it. They understand the deal of being a coach. There’s some great things that come along with this job and there’s some tough deals you’ve got to deal with.”

Coaching changes cannot be avoided — they are a necessary part of sports. However, the response of the coach under fire can often dictate how smooth the transition will be once the change is officially made.

“As I’ve said many times,” Muschamp explained in his statement, “life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond.”

With two games left as the head coach of the Florida Gators, Muschamp has a choice in how he responds.

But if this past season has taught us anything, he’s already made his choice — with class.