Ward had been previously the linebackers coach, but was serving as the interim coach of the defense following the departure of Ellis Johnson to Southern Mississippi. Spurrier decided to give Ward the position on a permanent basis.
"We don't have an interim defensive coordinator any more, we have a full-time (coordinator)," Spurrier told reporters. "Lorenzo Ward is our defensive coordinator here at South Carolina. He's the best guy I could hire. That's why I've hired him. He knows what we want to do. He and I think almost exactly alike defensively. We've talked a lot of defense over the last two or three years and he knows how to coach it and we agree on how to coach it. So he's going to be our guy, hopefully for several years, and he's certainly the full-time guy as we go through the bowl game and next year and so forth.”
Spurrier indicated that a contract had not been resolved for Ward yet, but would be after the bowl game. Spurrier also said that he made the decision before the bowl game because it was something that he was going to do anyway.
“We needed guys that are coming back next year to be able to look at Ward and (defensive line coach Brad Lawing) and all these guys and say these are my coaches, not only this camp but next year too,” Spurrier said. “It was what I felt like I needed to do anyway.”
Ward said the defense would look the same and that he and Spurrier believe in keeping it simple.
“I spent seven years in the 4-2-5 defense at Virginia Tech, so that’s what I would perceive as my base because that’s where I spent the most time at,” Ward said. “The defense will stay very similar to what it is.”
Ward’s promotion leaves the linebackers coaching position open, which is something that Ward looks to fill after the bowl game. It had been speculated that the Capital One Bowl would be an audition for Ward to get the Johnson’s former post, but now the game becomes a debut.
“I think anytime you enter the coaching profession, you want to win,” Ward said. “Anytime you lead a group, you try to put them in the best position so they can be successful. I don’t feel like there’s any other pressure than a normal football game for me.”
The move makes a lot of sense for USC considering how popular Ward is with players. It could factor into cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s decision to either return to USC for his senior season or declare for the NFL draft. There’s also continuity for recruits, as the defense will stay very much the same.
Clowney/Whitlock Update:
Ward also added that he’s heard positive things about whether C.C. Whitlock or Jadeveon Clowney would play after having their names and images on a poster promoting an event at a club in Rock Hill, which is a potential NCAA violation. The poster has since changed and no longer has Clowney or Whitlock on it.
In a phone conversation with the party’s promoter, the school did not send a cease-and-desist and the party was changed to have no association with Whitlock or Clowney.
Kyle Nunn update:
Offensive lineman Kyle Nunn will try to play in the Capital One Bowl, ruling out a possible sixth-year for him. Nunn, a fifth-year senior, has not played since the Vanderbilt game and was going to try for a medical redshirt to get a sixth-year, but if he plays in the bowl game, then he will not be able to apply for an extra year.
Offensive lineman Terrence Campbell has not practiced since the Clemson game because of a broken fibula, but Spurrier is still optimistic that he’ll be able to play.
