So Monday turned out to be a rather eventful day with the news that former Arkansas secondary coach Lorenzo Ward had agreed to be South Carolina’s new defensive coordinator.

  And while the coordinator title was likely a way for Ward to get a multi-year deal from South Carolina, not many people saw it coming. In fact, I asked Ward three times on the phone Monday morning if he was actually going to be the defensive coordinator.

  I didn’t believe it.

  Anyway, here is my full story on Ward’s departure in today’s edition of The Morning News. In it, he talks about his feelings for Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino and how he won’t go after any recruits being targeted by the Razorbacks.

  I just spoke with former Arkansas secondary coach Lorenzo Ward. It turns out his deal at South Carolina is better than many thought.

  Ward told The Morning News that he has accepted a job as South Carolina’s defensive coordinator, a position that was held last season by his close friend Ellis Johnson. Ward said he’s not sure what title Johnson will have with the Gamecocks.

  ”He was willing to give up his coordinator title to me,” Ward said. 

  Ward said he agreed to a three-year deal with South Carolina, and will begin officially start with the Gamecocks on Friday.

  ”The opportunity to have a title as a position coach intrigued me, and my ultimate goal is to be a head coach.  With a title (as a defensive coordinator), it increases your chances of doing that,” Ward said. “So that was the major factor in the deal, but Ellis and I are very close. Been close a long time, and the opportunity to work with him will be great also.”

  

  Arkansas secondary coach Lorenzo Ward agreed this morning to join Steve Spurrier’s coaching staff at South Carolina, according to The Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier.

  Ward’s decision comes as no surprise. He had spent the past few days mulling over an offer to coach alongside his close friend, South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.

  Ward, 41, was one year into a two-year deal at Arkansas that paid him $190,000 annually. It’s uncertain how much South Carolina would have to pay Arkansas to buy Ward out of his contract.

  Ward did not respond to a text message left on his cell phone Monday morning, and there was no answer at his house.

  Here is more on Ward’s hire from The Charleston Post and Courier.

  There has been plenty of talk over the past few days about the possibility of Arkansas secondary coach Lorenzo Ward leaving to work with his close friend, South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.

  Ward came to Arkansas after Johnson was hired as the school’s defensive coordinator. And once Johnson left to go back home to South Carolina, it was assumed that it was only a matter of time before Ward would leave for the Gamecocks.

  Well, now South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has an opening for a safeties coach after Ron Cooper took a job at LSU. Naturally, Ward’s name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the job.

  Ward and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino have been unavailable for comment while out recruiting. But here is some information that appeared today on a South Carolina blog run by The State (S.C.) newspaper.

  ”On the coaching front, USC defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson remains interested in Arkansas assistant Lorenzo Ward for Ron Cooper’s former position. But Ward has a multiyear deal with the Razorbacks and likely will be looking for another one.

  USC athletics director Eric Hyman has generally reserved multiyear contracts for coordinators. But there is some wiggle room, as evidenced by the three-year deal new O-line coach Eric Wolford received to be the Gamecocks’ running game coordinator, a newly created position.

  Could be that if USC wants Ward, it will have to make him the pass defense coordinator or come up with some other title.”

  Hopefully, someone from Arkansas -preferably Petrino or Ward – will break their month-long silence and talk to the media about the situation. For now, it’s all silence.