Reports: Muschamp returning as Gators coach in 2014 but changes to UF coaching staff ahead

By Adam Silverstein
November 24, 2013

The 1,000 percent confidence athletic director Jeremy Foley claimed to have in head coach Will Muschamp two weeks ago apparently remains unchanged despite the Florida Gators suffering the worst loss in program history on Saturday after falling 26-20 to Georgia Southern, the first FCS school to ever defeat Florida.

On Sunday, citing a “source close to the program,” the Orlando Sentinel reported that Muschamp’s job was safe even though “significant changes to [his] coaching staff are expected after Saturday’s season finale against Florida State.”

Those substantial adjustments will likely be made to the offensive side of the ball with offensive coordinator Brent Pease the main assistant on the hot seat.

Muschamp on Saturday strongly criticized the Gators’ performance on offense both in that loss and over the last few weeks.

“You got to change the scoreboard offensively. You got to be able to change the scoreboard. We’ve just struggled scoring points offensively. It’s been a week-in, week-out occurrence. My job is to get it fixed and it will get fixed,” he said.

“Very disappointed for our program, an embarrassment in this situation. We had our opportunities there, the kids kept playing hard. It’s very difficult for us to create explosive plays to get anything down the field. [We] just don’t ever do it.”

UF, which both lost six-straight games and clinched a sub-.500 season for the first time since 1979, has failed to eclipse 20 points since Oct. 5. While Florida has been unable to score more than 31 points in a single game this season, in-state rival Florida State has neither scored less than 41 points nor won a game by fewer than two touchdowns.

The Gators’ problems are not all on the offensive side of the ball, however. Florida has allowed four teams during its six-game losing streak to score 23 or more points including Vanderbilt (which two weeks ago beat UF for the first time since 1988) and GSU (which completed a five-play, 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive with 2:44 to play).

Georgia Southern also rushed for 429 yards on Saturday, the fourth-most ever allowed by Florida in a single game.

Following the Sentinel’s initial report, ESPN and CBS Sports both received a statement from the University Athletic Association (speaking on behalf of Foley) confirming that Muschamp would remain in place for 2014.

Photo Credit: Dave Martin/Associated Press