Muschamp shakes up staff with TE coach hire

By Adam Silverstein
February 2, 2011

With running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Stan Drayton departing for the Ohio State Buckeyes last week, Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp announced Wednesday during his National Signing Day press conference that some changes have been made to his first coaching staff.

Muschamp hired Derek Lewis to coach tight ends and shifted former TE coach Brian White‘s responsibilities to coaching running backs. Additionally, wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill will take over Drayton’s recruiting coordinator duties.

Lewis, Minnesota’s tight ends and assistant special teams coach since 2007, was a graduate assistant with the Texas Longhorns from 2005-06. He had a solid career as a four-year letterman at Texas from 1995-98 and spent two seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams (1999-2000), with whom he earned a Super Bowl ring.

“A lot of Gator fans will remember him,’’ Muschamp said of Lewis. “He caught the pass against Nebraska [in 1996] that won Texas the Big 12 Championship and vaulted Florida into the national championship game. He has helped the Gators in the past.”

A running backs coach from 1991-92 with UNLV and 1995-2006 with Wisconsin (where he was also offensive coordinator from 1999-2006), White takes over a job he has plenty of experience doing. Some of the players White has seen succeed under his tutelage as RB coach include Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis and Brian Calhoun – all four of whom were selected in the NFL Draft. He also produced eight 1,000-yard rushers in his first eight seasons with Wisconsin.

As projected by OGGOA on Jan. 27, Hill steps into the recruiting coordinator role after holding the position for the Miami Hurricanes in 2010.

“I’m really pleased with the job he did recruiting and what he brings to the staff, especially as a former Gator,” Muschamp said of his decision to give Hill the added responsibilities.

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

8 Comments

  1. SB says:

    I’m lost on how we teach these DBs. Muschamp must think he’ll have time to coach them up but in reality he’s going to be busier than he realizes. Robinson is the greenest of our coaches, barely out of the GA status. It seems like that’s a big role for him that previously two long time coaches handled.

    • David says:

      Muschamp said today, he’ll be involved in coaching the DBs, mostly the safeties. Urban coached special teams for years so I think Muschamp can be involved in the safety play just fine.

    • brlgator says:

      While i agree with you SB apparently 4 star commits, purifoy, gorman and roberson and 3 star commits showers and johnson didnt. if the kids are alright with it then I am too. Would like for us to get a real secondary coach though next year

  2. brlgator says:

    TEs get there own coach but cbs AND safeties dont???

  3. wmob0222 says:

    Coach Lewis has a nice resume he did some real good things with the tight ends in Minnesota the entire time he was there.

  4. Scooterp says:

    Adam, your coverage today was excellent. Wish we could have pulled in one or two more……. I have to say, Urban sounded impressive in his role today – smart, insightful and seemed very comfortable. – great hire by ESPN.

  5. SC Gator says:

    Looking at White’s background with RB’s (which I was unaware of till now) I have to ask… why the hell was Drayton coaching them in the first place?

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