With all the rumors flying around of potential hires, I figured this would be a good time to consolidate all that we know of Gator offensive coordinator candidates.
Brent Pease, Boise State OC. Rumor: Florida was set to hire Pease on January 6th. Fact: Visited Gainesville January 6th, and will visit Tuscaloosa after the BCS championship game on January 10th. Opinion: I personally think Alabama can have him. Sure, he is probably a good OC, but there really is not enough data to know whether BSU's success in 2011-2012 was due to him, Chris Petersen, or Bryan Harsin. Outlook: 75% probable.
Brian White, Florida RB coach. Rumor: Will Muschamp is set to promote Brian White to OC due to the fine job the Gators did offensively in the Gator Bowl. Fact: Will Muschamp is still looking, but will consider White. Brian White stated that he would be more than willing to remain on the Gator staff in any role Muschamp has for him. Opinion: I think he is fine as the running game coordinator and RB coach, but not as offensive coordinator. His "audition" in the Gator Bowl neither showed us anything good nor bad about his potential as an OC. Outlook: 50% probable.
EDIT: Mike Shula , Carolina Panthers QB coach. Rumor: The son of NFL legend Don Shula was rumored to be one of the early favorites to become the next Gator OC. Fact: There have been no confirmed sightings of Shula in Gainesville, for he has been busy with coaching up Cam Newton. Opinion: Any man that gains the respect of Tim Tebow, enough to spend half a chapter in a book, must be a good man. He has ties to the NFL and SEC, and works well with raw talent. He would be a great hire, if Muschamp can afford him. The concern here is that Shula already has SEC HC and NFL assistant experience and would be a danger to leave and threaten stability. Shula's name disappeared from the headlines as quickly as it appeared. I doubt he is interested. This name may have been planted by less reliable sources. Outlook: 10%.
Brian Schottenheimer, New York Jets OC. Rumor: Schotty nearly returned to his alma mater in December. Fact: Schotty withdrew his name from contention in order to remain in the pros, probably as the Jets OC. Opinion: This would have been a nice hire. A former Gator with NFL experience molding offensive players. A Gator that learned under Gator great, Steven Orr Spurrier. Outlook: 1% probable.
Kerwin Bell, Jacksonville University HC. Rumor: The Throwin' Mayoan was about to move a couple hours down the road and return to his old stomping ground as the OC. Fact: Kerwin removed his name from consideration for whatever reason, but he did make his facilities available to Will Muschamp in preparation for the Gator Bowl. He did state that he would love to coach at Florida, but not as a position coach. Opinion: I love me some Throwin' Mayoan. I loved watching him when I was a kid, both as a Gator and in his WLAF stint, but I think his small-time success would not translate well in Gainesville. Outlook: 1% probable.
Jay Norvell, Oklahoma QB coach. Rumor: In December, Norvell's name popped up as a possible candidate. Fact: Norvell is staying put in OK. Opinion: WTH was up with this rumor? Outlook: 0%.
Other. Opinion: Last year, nobody in the world saw the hire of Will Muschamp coming. Same with the hire of Charlie Weis. Look for Jeremy Foley and Will Muschamp to hire a big name that nobody thought of.
Brent Pease, Boise State OC. Rumor: Florida was set to hire Pease on January 6th. Fact: Visited Gainesville January 6th, and will visit Tuscaloosa after the BCS championship game on January 10th. Opinion: I personally think Alabama can have him. Sure, he is probably a good OC, but there really is not enough data to know whether BSU's success in 2011-2012 was due to him, Chris Petersen, or Bryan Harsin. Outlook: 75% probable.
Brian White, Florida RB coach. Rumor: Will Muschamp is set to promote Brian White to OC due to the fine job the Gators did offensively in the Gator Bowl. Fact: Will Muschamp is still looking, but will consider White. Brian White stated that he would be more than willing to remain on the Gator staff in any role Muschamp has for him. Opinion: I think he is fine as the running game coordinator and RB coach, but not as offensive coordinator. His "audition" in the Gator Bowl neither showed us anything good nor bad about his potential as an OC. Outlook: 50% probable.
EDIT: Mike Shula , Carolina Panthers QB coach. Rumor: The son of NFL legend Don Shula was rumored to be one of the early favorites to become the next Gator OC. Fact: There have been no confirmed sightings of Shula in Gainesville, for he has been busy with coaching up Cam Newton. Opinion: Any man that gains the respect of Tim Tebow, enough to spend half a chapter in a book, must be a good man. He has ties to the NFL and SEC, and works well with raw talent. He would be a great hire, if Muschamp can afford him. The concern here is that Shula already has SEC HC and NFL assistant experience and would be a danger to leave and threaten stability. Shula's name disappeared from the headlines as quickly as it appeared. I doubt he is interested. This name may have been planted by less reliable sources. Outlook: 10%.
Brian Schottenheimer, New York Jets OC. Rumor: Schotty nearly returned to his alma mater in December. Fact: Schotty withdrew his name from contention in order to remain in the pros, probably as the Jets OC. Opinion: This would have been a nice hire. A former Gator with NFL experience molding offensive players. A Gator that learned under Gator great, Steven Orr Spurrier. Outlook: 1% probable.
Kerwin Bell, Jacksonville University HC. Rumor: The Throwin' Mayoan was about to move a couple hours down the road and return to his old stomping ground as the OC. Fact: Kerwin removed his name from consideration for whatever reason, but he did make his facilities available to Will Muschamp in preparation for the Gator Bowl. He did state that he would love to coach at Florida, but not as a position coach. Opinion: I love me some Throwin' Mayoan. I loved watching him when I was a kid, both as a Gator and in his WLAF stint, but I think his small-time success would not translate well in Gainesville. Outlook: 1% probable.
Jay Norvell, Oklahoma QB coach. Rumor: In December, Norvell's name popped up as a possible candidate. Fact: Norvell is staying put in OK. Opinion: WTH was up with this rumor? Outlook: 0%.
Other. Opinion: Last year, nobody in the world saw the hire of Will Muschamp coming. Same with the hire of Charlie Weis. Look for Jeremy Foley and Will Muschamp to hire a big name that nobody thought of.
