Steve Spurrier is officially a Gator again.

Following 11 seasons as coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks (2005-2015), Spurrier has a new role with the Florida athletics department. Outgoing AD Jeremy Foley announced Friday that Spurrier has been named Ambassador and Consultant for the Florida Gators Athletics Department.

“It’s a great day for the Gator Nation to be able to welcome Coach Spurrier back home,” Foley said in a school release. “He has served as a tremendous ambassador to the University and the athletic department for 50-plus years and it’s only fitting that at this point in his career, he is back in Gainesville. Being a Gator has always meant so much to Coach Spurrier, but it means just as much to us have him come home.”

Spurrier expressed excitement about rejoining his alma mater, and says he will still be a Gamecocks fan.

“My wife, Jerri, and I are extremely thrilled to be returning home to our alma mater, and to Gainesville where we met on campus over 50 years ago,” Spurrier said. “I’m very appreciative to Athletic Director Jeremy Foley, Head Coach Jim McElwain and Phil Pharr of Gator Boosters for their role in making this happen.

“I also want to say thanks to the University of South Carolina for allowing me to be their coach from 2005 to 2015. Also a special thanks to all of the Gamecock players, coaches and fans that allowed our teams to set so many school records. I will now pull for South Carolina to win every game but one, just as I did when I pulled for Florida to win every game but one as the Gamecock coach. I will try my best to promote and assist in any way I can to help the Gators to continue to be one of the very best athletic programs in America. I admire what Coach McElwain and his staff accomplished last year. I’m anxious to watch the Gator football team as they strive to be the best in the SEC and the nation in the years ahead.”

Current head coach Jim McElwain is excited to have Spurrier back on Florida campus in an official capacity.

“I look forward to visiting with him on a lot of occasions and picking his brain on a number of issues,” McElwain said. “It’s a credit to Jeremy to get him back home where he belongs. More than anything I look forward to actually talking to him and being around him rather than just saying hello to his statue on my way to work every day.”

Spurrier is viewed as the ultimate Gator by many of the Florida faithful. He played at UF from 1963-66, winning the Heisman Trophy in his senior season. Spurrier returned to Florida as the head coach of the Gators in 1990 for a successful 12-year tenure that brought the Fun N Gun to college football and the program its first national championship trophy in 1996. He was named SEC Coach of the Year five times, led the Gators to six conference titles and coached the school’s second Heisman winner, QB Danny Wuerffel (1996).

In June it was announced that Florida Field, the playing field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, will be renamed Steve Spurrier-Florida Field.