2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

New head football coach Jim McElwain following his introductory press conference on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

McElwain hires Geoff Collins as defensive coordinator

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 16, 2014

New coach Jim McElwain has made his first hire. Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins has been picked for the same position at Florida, the school announced Wednesday and he will replace current defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin following Florida’s final game of the season in the Birmingham Bowl Jan. 3.

Dorian Finney-Smith dribbles the ball during Florida's 79-34 win against Jacksonville.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida stalls Jacksonville in second half to win third straight game

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Dec. 14, 2014

In Florida’s (6-4) third consecutive win since falling to No. 11 Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas on Dec. 5, the Gators defeated Jacksonville (2-9) 79-34 on Sunday.

Carlie Needles looks to pass the ball during Florida's 59-54 win against Stetson.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida women’s basketball stalls Stetson

By GRAHAM HALL | Dec. 14, 2014

Coming off its third straight loss, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team found a way to get back into the win column, defeating Stetson 59-54 in the O’Connell Center on Sunday.

UF players celebrate during Florida's 3-0 win against Alabama State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball season ends at Elite Eight after Stanford sweep

By EDEN OTERO | Dec. 13, 2014

While Florida’s season ended on Saturday night in Ames, Iowa against No. 1 seed Stanford, it wasn’t all a loss.

UF's Shainah Joseph swings for a kill attempt against Mississippi State. The sophomore middle blocker recorded seven kills and five blocks as No. 8 seed Florida defeated ninth-seed Illinois in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Ames, Iowa.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball pulls out five-set win over Illinois, advances to Elite Eight

By IAN COHEN | Dec. 12, 2014

Three down, three to go.

Will Muschamp signals during UF's 38-20 win against UGA on Nov. 1 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Reports: Former Florida head coach Will Muschamp to become defensive coordinator at Auburn

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 12, 2014

Will Muschamp’s next stop in his coaching career will be right where it started.

Freshman Devin Robinson drives into the paint during Florida's 75-50 win against Texas Southern on Friday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida starts strong, defeats Texas Southern 75-50

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Dec. 12, 2014

Despite some early foul trouble, Florida (5-4) defeated Texas Southern (1-7) 75-50 at the O’Connell Center on Friday night.

A protester outside the Stephen C. O’Connell center holds a sign with a statement implying the University of Florida is only concerned with African-Americans that participate in athletics at the school.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students protest Ferguson, Eric Garner cases outside Florida basketball game

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 12, 2014

A group of more than 75 people of all races comprised mostly of students stood shoulder to shoulder in non-violent protest outside of multiple entrances of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center shortly before Friday night’s Florida basketball game.

January Miller drives the ball to the net during Florida’s 87-69 win against Auburn on Jan. 26 in the O’Connell Center. Miller scored only five points while turning the ball over three times in UF’s loss to UGA on Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida women’s basketball falls to Wisconsin

By GRAHAM HALL | Dec. 10, 2014

With leading scorer Cassie Peoples sitting out the first half due to a violation of team rules, the Florida women’s basketball team needed the support of its bench players to pick up the slack in the redshirt junior’s absence.