(Columbia) Nov. 23, 2004 - Steve Spurrier, the man South Carolina is naming to take over the Gamecock football program, is by all accounts a highly successful college coach.
The 59-year-old won a national title in 1996 and six Southeastern Conference championships while amassing a 122-27-1 record in 12 seasons as the head coach of the University of Florida. He is 177-59-2 all-time as a head coach, including stints with the Washington Redskins and Duke University.
As a player at Florida, the "Old Ball Coach" was an All-American in 1965 and 1966 and won the 1966 Heisman Trophy after leading the Gators to a 9-2 record. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1967 and was traded to the Buccaneers in 1976, where he played one season.
In 1978, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Florida before becoming the quarterbacks coach at Georgia Tech. After serving as offensive coordinator for Duke from 1980-1982, Spurrier was named head coach of United States Football League's Tampa Bay Bandits.
In 1987, he returned to Duke as head coach and was twice ACC Coach of the Year before leaving for Florida in 1990. He was named SEC Coach of the Year three times and won at least nine games every season before leaving for the NFL after the 2001 season.
He was less successful in the pros, leading the 'Skins to a 12-20 record over the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Spurrier and his wife, Jerri, have four children, Lisa, Amy, Steve Junior and Scotty. Earlier in November he asked that he not be considered to take over the vacancy left at Florida upon the during of his replacement, Ron Zook.
updated 11:30am by Chris Rees
