Pro Bowler Bryant Young added to Gators staff

By Adam Silverstein
January 14, 2011

Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp had one final position to fill on his initial coaching staff after hiring Seattle Seahawks defensive line coach Dan Quinn as his defensive coordinator on Jan. 3. He made that decision Friday by bringing in 14-year NFL veteran and former San Francisco 49ers four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bryant Young as Quinn’s assistant defensive line coach.

“Bryant is a great addition to our coaching staff,” Muschamp said. “We want to be a program built on toughness – both physically and mentally, and there are not too many people tougher than Bryant. He was a leader, blue-collar player and a winner. He will demand his players to have the same attributes.”

The No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Young compiled 620 tackles and 89.5 sacks while playing professionally from 1994-2007. Named to the Pro Bowl in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2002, he was a member of the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIX championship team, was honored as a part of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team, and won the 1994 NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and 1999 Comeback Player of the Year awards.

He is also a former teammate of Florida football’s director of player and community relations Terry Jackson, a running back with San Francisco from 1999-2005.

Quinn was Young’s defensive line coach at the 49ers from 2003-04. He is still coaching the Seahawks as they participate in the second round of the NFL Playoffs and will join the Gators when his team’s season ends.

Since retiring, Young worked as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in January 2009 under then-head coach now Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and was hired by San Jose State to coach the team’s defensive line in 2010. When

The University of Florida confirmed Young’s hiring on Saturday.

CommitPos.Rating
Kelby Collins (44)
DL*
Ja'Keem Jackson (60)
CB*
Aidan Mizell (102)
WR*
Eugene Wilson (110)
WR*
Dijon Johnson (114)
CB*
Roderick Kearney (116)
OL*
Kamran James (168)
DL*
Will Norman (192)
DL*
Jordan Castell (208)
DB*
Sharif Denson (220)
CB*
TJ Searcy (257)
DL*
Gavin Hill
DL*
Aaron Gates
ATH*
Treyaun Webb
RB*
Andy Jean
WR*
Bryce Thornton
DB*
Jaden Robinson
LB*
Caden Jones
OL
Knijeah Harris
OL*
Bryce Lovett
OL*

*McCarney was also assistant head coach; Heater held the role of co-defensive coordinator. Muschamp has not named an assistant (or associate) head coach as of press time.

Photo Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

34 Comments

  1. Mr2Bits says:

    This is an absolutely GREAT hire. Wow, look at our coaching staff……unreal!

  2. David says:

    Great get. Hey recruit, you want to get ready for the NFL? Oh man, I hope this guy can coach because he was a stud in the NFL. Another super bowl ring to show recruits. I know great player doesn’t always mean great coach, but I have faith in Muschamp.

  3. npgator says:

    Great Staff!

  4. GatorCooken says:

    With all of our Defensive-minded-coaches, especially on D-Line, I cannot WAIT until they get their hands on Orr, Powell, Easley, Floyd , Trail, etc… Our D is going to be NASTY for the next couple of years. Any D-Lineman in the country, or any Defensive recruit in general, would be crazy not to come here.

  5. GatorCooken says:

    Wish we could have kept Heater, but I’m sure it was more of a personal decision on his part to leave. I think he understood he wasn’t going to get the DC job, but man, he was a SENSATIONAL DB coach.

  6. Daniel M. says:

    Niiiice !

  7. Daniel M. says:

    “Quinn was Young’s defensive line coach at the 49ers from 2003-04. He is still coaching the Seahawks as they participate in the second round of the NFL Playoffs and will join the Gators upon his team’s elimination.”

    Umm..excuse me sir. When the Seahawks win the Superbowl they won’t ever have been “eliminated.”

  8. Joe says:

    Impressive!

  9. David says:

    GatorCooken, I heard Orr may have moved to OL. Anyone else hear that?

  10. Gatorgrad79 says:

    That’s what I’m talking about – mean and nasty defense wins championships!

  11. Ken says:

    A lot of great coaches with NFL experience, my question is what is their background in recruiting? What connections do they have to high schools and their coaches? How long will it take for them to be able to really network and leverage those connections?

    Adam: I read that Weis is coming back to G’Ville this weekend because this is a big recruiting weekend, with a lot of recruits coming to town. Any word on who is supposed to be in town and what our chances are with them?

  12. FLA_GATORZ says:

    WOW, what a coaching staff!!! Cannot wait to see what they do with this defense!

    Great job coach Boom!

  13. Gatorbuc15 says:

    Wow, another great hire by Muschamp! This is fantastic!

  14. BZurch says:

    Bryant Young is one of my favorite players as a kid loved the Niners, great to have him on staff expect big things to come

  15. Willy T says:

    Can’t wait to see if these coaches pay off next year!!

  16. Gator8 says:

    Wow, Muschamp’s good at this. That staff looks amazing. Should look good for recruits in the future, also. I’d imagine that players would want to be coached by people that have done it at the next level already. Can’t wait for us to be back on top, beginning with the top of the SEC. This past year was a bit embarrassing.

  17. Ellis says:

    Another “Plumb” added to the mix!
    Can’t wait to see these Guy’s in action!
    A better group of coache’s/recuriter’s
    would be extremely hard to match!
    “Go Gators!
    ~LS~

  18. James says:

    Awesome, Go Gators!

  19. GatorSnake says:

    Great hire. Muschamp is getting it done at UF! Proud to be a Gator!

  20. Craig says:

    This Dan Quinn is something. Coached Bryant Young, coached Jason Taylor to Defensive Player of the Year in the NFL, and look what he’s done this year. Took two “no-name” defensive ends for Seattle, from 6.5 combined sacks to 20 combined sacks.

    This guy does not play around.

  21. SaraGator says:

    I am EXTREMELY impressed with Coach Boom! I had expected his SEC posse to join him, instead he had hired professionals.

    His staff proves that Coach Boom wants to win NOW and not later!

  22. elaime says:

    Go Gators Can’t wait for O&B.

  23. Swampbabe says:

    Now, if he could just stockpile some player talent to go with all this coaching talent we’d be all set.

  24. sean brennan says:

    10,000

  25. rico says:

    all these hire will pay off in recruiting next year. i can tell the player will buy in quick. their reason to coming to UF is to win and another losing/ disappointing season wont be allowed b y the coaches

  26. It'sG82BAFlaGator says:

    We’re back in the mix for Jernigan!

  27. Gatorgrad79 says:

    @G82BAFlaGator – what is the source of your info ( don’t rely too much on local press, they tend to get alot wrong). Not that I have heard anything either way, which is why I am asking…

  28. Gatorgrad79 says:

    Re the above, Jernigan has been a fsu fan since kindergarten, but are you thinking the Bryant Young hire will tip the scale to UF?

  29. Jesse C says:

    Blown away by the new staff. If WM can close the deal with recruits like he did with the staff, we are in very good hands. I expect that our team will be completely different next year in terms of discipline, hunger and execution. This is going to make for a very highly anticipated season… expectations may be a little lower but at least there will be some excitement seeing what this NFL-caliber staff can do with our boys. I’m excited… are you? Go Gators!

  30. DGlockUF says:

    What a great hire. I agree with the posters about Coach Boom bringing in an impressive staff of assistants. If Timmy Jernigan does a double take at Florida (most sources say Florida is down to 4th or 5th on his list) because of the Young hire, that would be incredible.

    It’sG82BAFlaGator, where did you hear this rumor?

  31. Drew 4 Orange & Blue says:

    I like the addition…can’t hurt recruiting and if players don’t respect that guy there is something wrong….Jernigan looked great in the US Army game….would love to get him in the fold

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