Head football coach Will Muschamp was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year preseason watch list July 11, along with 20 other coaches.
This nomination recognizes the head coach of the team that promotes success, while practicing integrity, leadership and the importance of scholarship. These three components are the three pillars of coach Bobby Dodd's coaching ideology.
"This is the most-coveted coaching award because it looks beyond rankings, wins or losses," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, in a statement. "[It] measures the overall impact these coaches have on their players, universities and communities."
Muschamp has molded and shaped the South Carolina football program over the past two seasons. When Muschamp was hired as the head football coach in 2015, the Gamecocks had just finished a season in which they only posted three wins. Muschamp has exceeded expectations, boasting a 15-11 record in his first two seasons as head coach.
A challenge still awaits for Muschamp as he has more to prove during the 2018 season.
The winner of the 2018 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Week during the college football postseason.