Ellis Johnson resigned Thursday as defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas to coach at the University of South Carolina, saying the timing was unfortunate but that ultimately it was the best decision for his family.

Johnson, 56, was officially announced by Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino on Jan. 4 after spending the past four seasons as defensive coordinator at Mississippi State.

"Ellis Johnson has resigned as defensive coordinator," Petrino said Thursday. "I spoke with Coach Johnson this morning and he felt like this is the best decision for his family. I certainly understand that. He and his wife are both from South Carolina and many of their relatives still reside in the state. I wish Coach Johnson and his family the best. We will now move forward in hiring a defensive coordinator."

Steve Spurrier, the Gamecocks head football coach, hired Johnson to replace Brian VanGorder, who was hired just last month. Spurrier said VanGorder came to him Thursday morning and said he would be returning to the Atlanta Falcons as defensive coordinator. VanGorder was linebackers coach for the troubled Atlanta Falcons this season. Petrino left as Falcons head coach to be at Arkansas.

Spurrier says Johnson will receive a three-year contract.

Johnson hails from Winnsboro, S.C. He and his wife, Caroline, have three children. Among his career highlights, he was part of the Alabama staff that guided the Tide to the 1992 SEC and national titles

"I was blessed with opportunities at two great universities, two great Southeastern Conference football programs with two proven and accomplished head coaches," Johnson said. "South Carolina is home to me and to my wife as well as much of our family. I have 16 years in the state retirement system there and it was something that we were always looking toward in the later stages of my career. It was an extremely difficult decision and the timing is unfortunate. However, I feel that it was the right decision for my family. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity Coach Petrino gave me to be a part of the Razorback program."

Johnson said Petrino was disappointed.

"Coach Petrino's handled it with class. He's been in this profession long enough to understand these things," Johnson said. "He's been through a very tough, demanding change himself recently."

Johnson hadn't signed a contract with Arkansas. His wife and three young children were driving from Mississippi to Arkansas when Spurrier's job offer changed plans once again.

"You never know where you end up," Johnson said. "I've always had getting back to the state of South Carolina on the major college level in my sights."

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.