Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is retiring, effective immediately, and an interim head coach will be named Tuesday, The State newspaper of Columbus, S.C., reported Monday.
The 70-year-old Spurrier informed his team of his decision Monday, and quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus is expected to be named the interim head coach, a source told The State.
Spurrier is in his 11th season with the Gamecocks after returning to college football following a stint as a head coach in the NFL.
Spurrier built South Carolina into a national power, and the Gamecocks had three consecutive 11-win seasons from 2011 to 2013.
However, South Carolina won just seven games last year and it is 2-4 this season, including 0-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Spurrier was in danger of having his first losing season since 1987.
Spurrier won the 1996 national championship and six SEC championships during his 12-year stint at Florida.
He left Florida to coach the Washington Redskins but went 12-20 in two seasons before taking the job at South Carolina.
Spurrier was an outstanding college quarterback, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1966 while at Florida.
He played nine seasons in the NFL.
Spurrier made a name for himself as a head coach when he turned around the program at Duke. After going 5-6 in Spurrier’s first year, the Blue Devils went 7-3-1 in his second season and 8-4 in his third season in 1989.
That enabled him to land the job at his alma mater.
