KIRK BOTKIN ADDED TO COACHING STAFF
Spurrier Hires Linebackers Coach
COLUMBIA,
S.C. – University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier
has tabbed Kirk Botkin as the team’s linebackers coach, it was
announced today.
I’m excited to name Kirk Botkin as our
linebackers coach,” said Coach Spurrier. “He has a lot of experience as
both a player and a coach. I feel that Coach Botkin will bring energy,
enthusiasm and good play to our linebackers.”
Botkin returns to
the collegiate coaching ranks after spending the last two seasons
coaching high school football at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas.
He spent the 2008 and ’09 seasons coaching the defensive ends and
special teams at his alma mater, Arkansas, under Bobby Petrino,
including one season alongside Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator Lorenzo
Ward.
“I’m happy to be here and have the opportunity to work
with outstanding coaches like Coach Spurrier and Coach Ward,” said
Botkin. “I’m looking forward to bringing my family to Columbia and
becoming part of the Gamecock family.”
Botkin was the
Razorbacks’ first All-SEC performer as a tight end in 1992 and ’93, and
served as a captain during his senior season. He graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in education. He was later named to the Razorbacks’
All-Decade team for the 1990s after logging 87 career receptions for
819 yards and five touchdowns.
Botkin spent four years in the
NFL, including playing for Bill Parcells in New England (1994), Jim
Mora in New Orleans (1994-95) and Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh (1996-97).
After an injury ended his career, he began his coaching career at his
hometown high school of Robert E. Lee High in Baytown, Texas in 1999.
In 2000 he worked as a graduate assistant at Rice University in Houston.
From
2001-05, Botkin served as an assistant coach at Jacksonville State
University, first as a tight ends/offensive tackles coach, then as an
outside linebackers/special teams coach. While at JSU, the squad won
the Ohio Valley Conference in 2003 and ’04 and coached seven
all-conference performers.
Between stints at Jacksonville State
and Arkansas, Botkin spent two seasons coaching linebackers and special
teams at Louisiana-Monroe. In 2007, he helped the Warhawks record their
first non-losing season in 14 years, including a win at Alabama.
Born March 19, 1971, Botkin and his wife, the former Rebecca Holloway, have three children, Lane, Ty and Brynn.
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