Report: Geoff Collins leaving for Temple

Jim McElwain will be tasked with replacing a coordinator for the first time as the Florida Gators head coach.

According to a report from ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, defensive coordinator Geoff Collins will accept the head-coaching job at Temple. The Owls have a vacancy after former head coach Matt Rhule accepted the head coaching job at Baylor.

The Gators have ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense with Collins directing the defense the past two seasons. He was the highest paid assistant at Florida, making $900,000 this season with a $150,000 retention bonus in his contract due every February.

Collins was mentioned as a potential head coaching candidate following the 2015 season and then again for numerous jobs this season. His name was floated around as a potential hire for the USF job before former Texas head coach Charlie Strong accepted the job.

The Gators have an easy replacement already on the coaching staff in Randy Shannon.

Shannon was named Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers coach in 2015. Shannon has more than 25 years experience as a coach, including six as a defensive coordinator (Miami 2001-06 and four as a head coach (Miami 2007-10).

The Gators could, potentially, make a hire from outside the program. Jim McElwain could use another great recruiter on his staff and Collins’ departure leaves McElwain with close to a million dollars to play with if he chooses to look to poach a coach from another staff.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC