Kirby Smart comments on Will Muschamp’s departure for Texas: ‘I’m so happy for him’
By David Wasson
Published:
Will Muschamp’s departure from the Georgia coaching staff leaves an opening for Kirby Smart to fill, but that doesn’t mean Smart is unhappy about Muschamp’s decision to move to Texas to become the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator.
“I’m so happy for him. He loves coaching,” Smart said Monday during Georgia’s preparation to play Ole Miss in College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day (8 pm ET, ESPN).
“He loved coaching when he was here. … When he had an opportunity to jump back in, I know he loves it. … He’s going to a great place to work for a great man. Wish him nothing but the best.”
Muschamp has been working as a defensive analyst for Smart in Athens and served as the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator in 2022-23. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian hired Muschamp to replace the fired Pete Kwiatkowski on Dec. 18.
Muschamp was the head coach at Florida from 2011-24 and at South Carolina from 2016-20. He went 28-21 overall and 17-15 in the SEC with the Gators and was 28-30 overall and 17-22 with the Gamecocks.
Georgia went 12-1 in 2025 and won the SEC championship, earning the No. 3 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
