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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) – University of South Carolina  coach Steve Spurrier hires former high school football coach Kirk Botkin as the team’s linebackers coach

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.