WATCH LIVE: UofSC holds news conference after Muschamp firing

By Patrick Phillips | November 16, 2020 at 9:24 AM EST - Updated November 16 at 11:09 AM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - University of South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner said it was difficultto fire Head Football Coach Will Muschamp over the weekend.

“At the end of the day, the expectation is to win games,” Tanner said. “And that’s what we’re judged on. That’s what our aspirations are, but life does become personal, and it doesn’t doesn’t make it easy.”

Tanner and Interim Head Coach Mike Bobo spoke to reporters about the news and the future of the program during a media availability Monday morning.

“It wasn’t an easy conversation,” Tanner said, adding that it was “very honest and candid.” Muschamp met with the players after their conversation, Tanner said.

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Bobo, the team’s offensive coordinator, was named interim head coach Sunday afternoon.

After a thorough assessment of our football program, we have decided to make a change with the head football coach," Athletics Director Ray Tanner said in a statement Sunday afternoon. “I appreciate all that Will Muschamp has done for our program and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

UofSC President Bob Caslen called Muschamp “a true professional and strong advocate for our student-athletes” who brought “much-needed stability” to the college’s football program.

“However, I believe it is time to move in a different direction,” Caslen said in a statement.

Muschamp was in the middle of his 5th season with the Gamecocks and had gone 28-30 overall including 2-5 this season.

Muschamp became the only coach to lead the team to a bowl appearance in his first 3 seasons which included a win in the Outback Bowl after 2017.

He led the Gamecocks to a big win over then 15th ranked Auburn on Oct. 17 but followed that with blowout losses to LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss last night by a combined score of 159-69.

The school said the search for a new coach will begin immediately.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.