Breaking: Will Muschamp Hired as Texas DC; Kwiatkowski Out

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Longhorns have made a massive splash in the coaching carousel, hiring former Georgia Co-Defensive Coordinator and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp as their new Defensive Coordinator.

The move comes immediately following the firing of Pete Kwiatkowski, whose defense struggled with consistency during the Longhorns' 9-3 campaign in 2025. Head Coach Steve Sarkisian wasted no time in securing a proven SEC defensive mind to help Texas navigate the rugged conference schedule.

Muschamp's Resume

Muschamp, affectionately known as "Coach Boom," is no stranger to the Forty Acres. He previously served as the Longhorns' Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach-in-Waiting under Mack Brown from 2008 to 2010. Since then, he has held head coaching stints at Florida and South Carolina before returning to elite coordinator status at Georgia, where he helped engineer some of the most dominant defenses in college football history.

Sarkisian emphasized Muschamp's extensive SEC experience and previous familiarity with the Texas program as key factors in the hiring decision, noting the need for intensity and defensive consistency.

Staff Shakeup

Muschamp isn't the only familiar face returning. Blake Gideon, a former Texas safety and special teams ace, is also rejoining the staff to coach the secondary. The overhaul signals a complete philosophical shift for a Texas defense that ranked middle-of-the-pack in the SEC in 2025.

With the hiring of Muschamp, Texas signals to the rest of the college football world that they are "all in" on maximizing the roster for the 2026 season.

This story is developing.

Depth Chart Impact

Muschamp's hire immediately changes how Texas defensive positions should be evaluated. The Longhorns are likely to put more stress on edge setting, linebacker communication, and safety versatility, which means the spring depth chart will not be a simple carryover from the 2025 rotation.

The secondary is especially important with Gideon back in the building. Texas has athletic defensive backs, but the new staff will need to identify which players can handle pattern matching, run support, and pressure-call checks without giving away explosives.

Roster Watch

For our projections, the priority rooms are edge, linebacker, nickel, and safety. Returning starters keep the first claim on roles, but coordinator changes often create openings for younger players who learn quickly. Transfer additions and early-enrollee defenders should be tracked closely once winter workouts begin.