HOOVER, Ala. – As Will Muschamp stepped to the podium in front of a large group of print media at Southeastern Conference media days Wednesday afternoon, moderator Kevin Trainer welcomed the first-year University of Florida football coach back to the annual event.
Though he was making his media days debut after leaving his defensive coordinator position and coach-in-waiting label at Texas, Muschamp is no stranger to the SEC.
The former Georgia safety coached with Alabama coach Nick Saban and Tennessee coach Derek Dooley on Saban’s staff at LSU before a stint as Auburn’s defensive coordinator and remains close with his former coaching mates.
“I wouldn’t say we all get along that well,” Muschamp said smiling. “I don’t have any problem with having great respect and liking somebody that we’re competing against.”
The 39-year-old takes over a Florida program that won the 2006 and 2008 national titles under former coach Urban Meyer, so the rebuilding job Muschamp faces with the Gators might not be as difficult as most first-year coaches.