Auburn Football: What New Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp Means to the Tigers
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Well, after 14 days of Muschamp Watch-ing, it’s finally over.
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Will Muschamp is the new defensive coordinator for the Auburn football team, as first reported by AuburnUndercover’s Phillip Marshall and shortly thereafter by Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans.
So… Now what?
First things first, the hire sends a message to the Southeastern Conference and to college football that the Auburn Tigers are a force to be reckoned with. Athletic Director Jay Jacobs hired Gus Malzahn, who immediately turned the 3-9 2012 Auburn football team into a national title contender.
Then, he brought in Bruce Pearl as head basketball coach, who is perhaps the greatest program ambassador in college athletics. Pearl has only coached seven games, but there is more excitement surrounding Auburn basketball than there has been in decades, and recruits are noticing.
Now, Jacobs is expected to make Muschamp the highest paid coordinator in the nation – somewhere between $1.6 million and $1.8 million.
Oct 12, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp against the LSU Tigers during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Hyperbole be damned, the two give the Auburn football team the best pair of offensive and defensive minds in college football.
Muschamp will also help on the recruiting trail. Coach Boom has a reputation for being one of the best closers in the business, and he put together solid classes as the head coach at Florida.
If former Auburn star and Florida assistant Travaris Robinson (a top-notch recruiter) comes along as well, it’s an added bonus.
With National Signing Day less than two months away, Muschamp will be hard at work with head coach Gus Malzahn in an attempt to land high profile recruits like five-star offensive lineman Martez Ivey, who is said to have Florida and Auburn in a dead-heat for his services.
The hire could also impact potential future players such as former Auburn commit Tony Bridges, the top junior college defensive back in the nation, uncommitted defensive lineman Daron Payne and four-star linebacker Jeff Holland among others.
Once the dust has settled in the recruiting races, Malzahn and Muschamp will begin devising an install schedule for spring practice.
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They will formulate a plan to elevate the play of a Tigers defense that was historically bad last season, allowing 31 points or more to six consecutive SEC opponents. Muschamp will incorporate a scheme that is multiple and complex, but that puts defenders in place to make plays.
Everywhere he’s been, Muschamp has been successful. In 12 seasons a defensive coordinator or head coach, Coach Boom’s defenses have finished in the top 20 nationally.
Nine months from now, the Tigers will open the 2015 season in Atlanta, and Will Muschamp’s fire and passion will be back on the Auburn sidelines. Players feed off his energy.
He’s expected to sign a three-year deal, but Muschamp may prove worthy of another high-profile head coaching job before then.
If so, it probably means Auburn will have had a lot of success on the football field.
And if everything comes together just right, it could be a very special.
Welcome back Coach Boom.
Next: BOOM! Auburn Hires Will Muschamp As Defensive Coordinator
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