Georgia interim head coach Bryan McClendon to join South Carolina staff after bowl game

Bryan McClendon will stay in the SEC East next year. It just won't be with Georgia.

McClendon has agreed to become the Gamecocks' co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach next season. He is set to join South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp's staff after the TaxSlayer Bowl.

"Bryan is an up-and-comer in the coaching profession," Muschamp said in a statement. "It says a lot about his abilities as a coach to be named the interim head coach for the Bulldogs in their bowl game."

McClendon became Georgia's interim head coach after Mark Richt was fired. He spent this season coaching receivers while also holding assistant head coach, pass-game coordinator and recruiting coordinator titles.

McClendon, who was a receiver at Georgia from 2002-05, joined his alma mater’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. From 2009-14, McClendon coached Georgia's running backs, which included Isaiah Crowell, Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall and Nick Chubb coming through under his watch.

McClendon switched to coach receivers this season with Thomas Brown, who is leaving Georgia for Miami, coaching running backs.

It was expected for McClendon to land elsewhere as he wasn't seen as a candidate to be retained on incoming head coach Kirby Smart's staff.

McClendon didn't waste too much time finalizing the decision. On Monday, he said he would use the days in between bowl practices in Athens and Jacksonville, Florida to make his final decision. McClendon also had the possibility to reunite with Richt, who is now the head coach at Miami.

Since becoming a coach at Georgia, McClendon has been a part of 63 wins and two SEC Eastern Division titles.

McClendon established a tremendous reputation as Georgia’s recruiting coordinator as 247Sports.com named him the 2014 recruiter of the year. McClendon was the primary recruiter for Gurley, Marshall, Chubb and Sony Michel when they were coming out of high school.

At 31 years old, multiple Georgia players say McClendon can relate to them better than some of the older coaches on staff.

"B-Mac’s definitely cool, he’s a little younger and someone we can relate to," senior offensive tackle John Theus said. "He’s understanding in that sense. He’s just kind of like a loving father. He’s cool but when it’s time to get to business, it’s time to get to business."

That stated, McClendon isn’t one to go soft on his team.   

"He’s very respected," Michel said. "When he comes around the team straightens up."

The Gamecocks recruited well under former head coach Steve Spurrier but could become an even tougher opponent each February with Muschamp and McClendon on the same coaching staff.

Since he assumed the role of Georgia’s interim head coach, McClendon has deflected most questions about his future in an effort to keep his team focused on the TaxSlayer Bowl against Penn State.

Earning a promotion to be South Carolina’s co-offensive coordinator will make McClendon much more involved in drafting game plans on a weekly basis.

Having the experience of being Georgia’s interim head coach should aid McClendon in his next job.

"What I’ve learned is the kids are the easy part. Everything else, dealing with the adults is what eats up a lot of your time," McClendon said. "What I have learned is how much goes through the head coach and how much input you actually do have on every decision that’s made. That’s why it’s important, it’s super important, to have good people around you."

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Georgia interim head coach Bryan McClendon to join South Carolina staff after bowl game."