Florida names Steve Spurrier ambassador, consultant

Former Florida Gators head football coach Steve Spurrier was named Ambassador and Consultant to the University of Florida Athletic Department on Friday.

Spurrier most recently coached at SC, where he led the Gamecocks to an 86-49 record- going 44-40 in the Southeastern Conference.

Spurrier will resign from a similar position at USC which was scheduled to pay him $100,000 a year.

In early June, Florida Field was renamed Steve-Spurrier-Florida Field in his honor, with the unveiling of his namesake set for the season opener against MA on September 3.

The unveiling of Steve Spurrier-Florida Field comes in the Gators’ season opener against UMass on September 3.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley made the announcement Friday, welcoming Spurrier “back home”. “He has served as a tremendous ambassador to the University and the athletic department for 50-plus years, and it’s only fittig that at this point in his career, he is back in Gainesville”.

When Gators head coach Jim McElwain and Foley talked with him informally recently about an ambassador role, the idea intrigued him.

Florida coach Jim McElwain, who is entering his second season in Gainesville, said he was excited to work with Spurrier and be able to “pick his brain on a number of issues”. “It’s a credit to Jeremy to get him back home where he belongs”.

“I will now pull for SC to win every game but one, just as I did when I pulled for Florida to win every game but one as Gamecocks coach”.

Spurrier resigned from a similar position at SC on Friday before the Gators announced his new role at his alma mater.

“I will say this: Coach McElwain is not a big ego guy at all. 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”. His press conferences and appearances with the media are lively and engaging: few people in the sport are as charismatic and naturally good at dealing with pressure and being in the limelight: Spurrier thrives in that.

But Spurrier later would coach Shane Matthews and Rex Grossman, among others, at a position that put Florida football on the map. His first head coaching job came with the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits in 1983.

Spurrier returned to Gainesville in 1990 and turned the Gators’ fortunes around. Spurrier led UF to six SEC championships and a National Championship in 1997. “He suggested that whenever I was done coaching to come around a little bit and see if I can help the Gators in all sports”.

“I will now pull for SC 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”, Spurrier said.

The Head Ball Coach left SC during the 2015 season.

SC president Harris Pastides told The State in Columbia that he wished Spurrier well. “I wanted to do something”.

Spurrier thanked the Gators for bringing him back to Gainesville, but he also thanked SC for allowing him to be their coach. Also a special thanks to all of the Gamecock players, coaches and fans that allowed our teams to set so many school records.