The search for the last assistant coach is finally over.
Urban Meyer announced Tuesday that former Michigan secondary coach Vance Bedford will take the same position at UF. Bedford was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2005-06 and spent five years with the Chicago Bears, where he coached Rookie of the Year Charles Tillman in 2003.
This hire finally has ended the shake up of the coaching staff. After the previous staff had being together for several years, Stan Drayton (running backs) left for Tennessee and Doc Holliday (safeties) went back to his Alma Mater at West Virginia. Defensive line coach Greg Mattison also bolted to the NFL for more money with the Baltimore Ravens.
So, after all this mess, here's how the Gators' coaching staff will look in 2008:
Head Coach: Urban Meyer (I hope you didn't really need to know this)
Assistant Head Coach/Offense/Offensive Line: Steve Addazio (nothing new here)
Cornerbacks: Vance Bedford (he better be able to bring these young pups up fast)
Running Backs: Kenny Carter (he has Emanuel Moody-but will Meyer give him the ball enough?)
Recruiting Coordinator/wide receivers: Billy Gonzales (the big news here is that he's the big chief with recruits now. That job mainly went to Holliday before).
Assistant Defensive Coach/Safeties: Chuck Heater (nothing new).
Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line: John Hevesy (nothing new).
Assistant Head Coach/ Defense/Defensive Line: Dan McCarney (how will me mesh with Strong?)
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks: Dan Mullen (nothing new, but he could be a name heard soon for head coaching gigs)
Associate Head Coach/Linebackers/Defensive Coordinator: Charlie Strong (nothing new.)
There will be a media opp. Thursday with the new assistants, so check out Friday's Alligator for more coverage of that.
