Former GHS assistant named USC coordinator
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBIA - For the second time in five weeks, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier found a defensive coordinator and ended a job-jumping spree that has involved Southeastern Conference schools and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

Spurrier hired Arkansas defensive coordinator and former Gaffney High assistant coach Ellis Johnson on Thursday only hours after the head ball coach's recent hire, Brian VanGorder, told the coach he was off to rejoin the Falcons and their new head coach, Mike Smith.

Spurrier hopes he's finally found the full-time replacement to lead his defense since Tyrone Nix left to take a similar position at Mississippi.

Spurrier talked with Johnson, a former Citadel head coach and South Carolina native, briefly before selecting VanGorder last month.

''You might ask, 'Why didn't you hire him the first time?''' Spurrier said. ''I should have. I really should have.''

Maybe then Spurrier could've cut short a flurry of coaching changes.

VanGorder came to Spurrier on Thursday morning with a dilemma. His friend, Smith, had been hired by the Falcons, the NFLclub where VanGorder had spent last season coaching linebackers under Bobby Petrino, who left before season's end to take the Arkansas head coaching job.

VanGorder said last month he was ready to put his NFLdays behind and find stability with the Gamecocks.

So much for that. Spurrier empathized with VanGorder, telling him he had to do what he felt was best and wished him well on his sixth job change since 2004. Soon after, Spurrier tracked down Johnson to ask if he was still interested, even though Johnson had been hired earlier this month as Arkansas defensive coordinator by new Razorbacks' coach, Petrino.

Johnson, who spent the past four seasons coordinating Mississippi State's defense, agreed to come aboard.

In case anyone forgot, Nix left South Carolina for Ole Miss and its new coach, Houston Nutt, who resigned his longtime head coaching position at - altogether now - Arkansas.

''At the end of the day, hopefully everyone's happy,'' Spurrier said. ''Arkansas may not be too happy right now.''

Johnson said after 32 years in coaching, little surprises him. He was thrilled, though, to return to his native state.

''It was probably the last thing on my mind when I got up, but I was really happy when he called,'' Johnson said.

Spurrier said Johnson will receive a three-year contract, the same length as VanGorder's deal.

Spurrier said little was disrupted with VanGorder's departure since the new coach had not been entrenched in recruiting or planning.

Johnson has spent much of his three decades of coaching as a defensive coordinator, serving in that capacity at Mississippi State (2004- 07), Alabama (1997-2000), Clemson (1994-96), Southern Miss (1988-89) and Appalachian State (1984). Besides his three seasons as head coach at his alma mater, The Citadel, Johnson was head coach at Gardner- Webb in 1983.

Johnson said Petrino was disappointed.

''Coach Petrino's handled it with class. He's been in this profession long enough to understand these things,'' Johnson said.

In a statement, Petrino said he spoke with Johnson ''and he felt like this is the best decision for his family. I certainly understand that.''

Johnson hadn't signed a contract with Arkansas. His wife and three young children were driving from Mississippi to Arkansas when Spurrier's job offer changed plans once again.

''You never know where you end up,'' Johnson said. ''I've always had getting back to the state of South Carolina on the major college level in my sights.''