Texas has hired Will Muschamp as its new defensive coordinator, marking a return to Austin for the former Florida and South Carolina head coach. Head coach Steve Sarkisian announced the move Thursday, alongside the news that defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and defensive passing game coordinator Duane Akina will not be retained.
Muschamp, 54, previously served as Texas’ defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2010, a period during which the Longhorns fielded one of the nation’s most dominant defenses. He replaces Kwiatkowski, who coordinated the Texas defense for all five of Sarkisian’s seasons at the helm, while Akina departs after just one year back with the program.
“We appreciate all that Pete Kwiatkowski has done for the program in his five years coordinating our defense and are grateful for Duane Akina’s efforts this past year,” Sarkisian said in a statement. “But we felt it was best to move in a different direction. Having the opportunity to hire Will Muschamp gives us the leadership to take our defense to another level.”
Before his first stint at Texas, Muschamp built a reputation as one of college football’s top defensive minds. His success in Austin led to him being named head coach-in-waiting in 2008, though he ultimately left to become Florida’s head coach in late 2010, succeeding Urban Meyer. Mack Brown remained Texas’ head coach through the 2013 season, and Muschamp never took over the program.
Muschamp went 28-21 in four seasons at Florida, highlighted by an 11-2 campaign in 2012, before struggling in subsequent years. He later served as Auburn’s defensive coordinator and then became head coach at South Carolina, where he went 28-30 over five seasons and was fired midway through the 2020 season. More recently, Muschamp worked at Georgia, including stints as co-defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023, and most recently as an analyst on Kirby Smart’s staff.
Texas opened the 2025 season ranked No. 1 but finished the regular season 9-3 and missed the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns ranked ninth in the SEC in total defense and tied for fifth in yards per play allowed. Sarkisian is banking on Muschamp’s experience to elevate the unit heading into a high-expectations 2026 season, with Arch Manning set to return at quarterback.
During Muschamp’s previous tenure at Texas, the Longhorns led the nation with 119 sacks from 2008 to 2010 and consistently ranked among the best defenses in college football. Texas reached the BCS National Championship Game in 2009, won the Big 12 title that season, and produced numerous NFL draft picks from Muschamp’s defensive units.
Fifteen years later, Muschamp returns to a familiar role, now tasked with restoring Texas’ defense to elite national status.