Steve Spurrier

Steve Spurrier is a former American football player and coach who became one of the most influential figures in college football history. Known for his success as both a player and coach, Spurrier served as the head coach for three college programs and two professional teams, including significant tenures at the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina, where he became the winningest coach in both programs' history. As a player, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1966 while at the University of Florida, where he also earned consensus All-American honors in both 1965 and 1966. Spurrier was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 as a player and again in 2017 as a coach, one of only four individuals to achieve this honor.

After his standout college career, Spurrier spent a decade playing professionally in the NFL, primarily as a backup quarterback and punter with the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He became the starting quarterback for the 49ers in the late 1960s and later helped lead the Buccaneers in their inaugural season. Following his playing days, Spurrier transitioned into coaching, where he found significant success. His coaching career began as an offensive assistant at Florida in 1978 and continued with stints at Georgia Tech and Duke, where he implemented his innovative "Fast Break" offense. As the head coach of Duke, he led the team to an ACC Championship in 1989. Spurrier also found success coaching the Tampa Bay Bandits in the USFL, finishing with a 35-19 record.

In 1990, Spurrier returned to the University of Florida as head coach, leading the Gators to unprecedented success. Over twelve seasons, he guided Florida to six SEC championships and the program’s first national championship in 1996, earning SEC Coach of the Year honors seven times. Spurrier’s time in Gainesville was marked by his high-powered “Fun ‘n’ Gun” offense, and in 2016, Florida named their home field "Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium" in his honor. Spurrier briefly coached the Washington Redskins in 2002 before taking the reins at South Carolina in 2005. At South Carolina, he revitalized the program, leading the Gamecocks to three 10-win seasons, their only 11-win season, and the school’s first-ever SEC Championship Game appearance.

Spurrier retired from coaching in 2015 but returned briefly to coach the Orlando Apollos in the Alliance of American Football in 2019. Beyond his coaching career, Spurrier remains an influential figure in the football world, serving as an ambassador and consultant for the University of Florida’s athletic department. He is also a frequent contributor to sports talk shows, including hosting his own program on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Spurrier is the author of the 2016 book "Head Ball Coach: My Life in Football" and continues to impact the sport both on and off the field.