Dan Mullen still has one hire to make before his Florida coaching staff is complete, and so far he’s only announced the responsibility for one assistant, Todd Grantham, who is the Gators’ defensive coordinator.
But this is a staff that already has a clear identity. It is deep in experience, including in the SEC.
Mullen, of course, is a proven SEC head coach who spent the last nine years in that role at Mississippi State. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer for four years.
Mullen knows what it’s like to compete, and succeed, in the SEC. And he’s surrounded himself with assistants who have done the same.
This is a staff, including Mullen, that has 73 years of coaching experience in the SEC. Five of the coaches have been coordinators or co-coordinators in the league: Mullen, Grantham, Sal Sunseri, Billy Gonzales and John Hevesy.
Overall, this staff has 193 years of coaching experience, including 18 in the NFL.
Since his arrival at UF a little more than a month ago, Mullen has hired seven new assistants and retained one from Jim McElwain’s staff — Ja’Juan Seider. He’s also hired a strength and conditioning coordinator (Nick Savage).
With Seider now officially on board, the UF coaching staff is at nine, including Mullen, and will grow by one to the new NCAA limit of 10.
Here’s a look at Florida’s coaching staff, with one position to fill:
Dan Mullen
Responsibility: Head coach.
Overall coaching experience: 23 years.
SEC coaching experience: 13 years, at UF and Mississippi State.
Previous job: Head coach at Mississippi State from 2009-17.
Todd Grantham
Responsibility: Defensive coordinator.
Overall coaching experience: 30 years, including 11 in the NFL with the Colts, Texans, Browns and Cowboys.
SEC coaching experience: Five years, at Georgia and Mississippi State, where he was the defensive coordinator at both schools.
Previous job: Defensive coordinator at MSU.
Billy Gonzales
Likely responsibility: Co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
Overall coaching experience: 25 years.
SEC coaching experience: 12 years, at MSU, LSU and UF.
Previous job: Co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at MSU.
John Hevesy
Likely responsibility: Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
Overall coaching experience: 24 years.
SEC coaching experience: 13 years, at MSU and UF.
Previous job: Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at MSU.
Brian Johnson
Likely responsibility: Quarterbacks coach.
Overall coaching experience: Eight years.
SEC coaching experience: None.
Previous job: Offensive coordinator at Houston.
Greg Knox
Likely responsibility: Tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
Overall coaching experience: 27 years.
SEC coaching experience: 23 years, at MSU, Auburn and Ole Miss.
Previous job: Running backs coach and special teams coordinator at MSU.
Charlton Warren
Likely responsibility: Secondary coach.
Overall coaching experience: 13 years.
SEC coaching experience: One year.
Previous job: Secondary coach at Tennessee.
Sal Sunseri
Likely responsibility: Defensive line coach.
Overall coaching experience: 24 years, including seven in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.
SEC coaching experience: Five years, at Tennessee (defensive coordinator), Alabama and LSU.
Previous job: Linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders.
Ja’Juan Seider
Likely responsibility: Running backs coach.
Overall coaching experience: 10 years.
SEC coaching experience: One year, at Florida.
Previous job: Running backs coach at UF.
I would love to see Vance Bedford join the staff. We had a lights out secondary under his coaching. I know Warren is the probable Secondary coach but just can’t imagine him being better than Bedford. His secondary is what started it All.
Now you can add Christian Robinson LB Coach to the list. Sunseri and Robinson are clearly Grantham hires. Kevin Patrick and Mike Peterson are still a better combo. As far as the 10th coach goes, don’t be surprised to see ether Ron English or Patrick Surtain Sr.
Good call Skip, on Ron English. Mullen has assembled quite the staff.
Good call Skip, on Ron English. Mullen has assembled quite the staff.