Offensive line coach Steve Addazio has been named by Urban Meyer to succeed Dan Mullen as the offensive coordinator at the University of Florida. The announcement came Saturday afternoon after a brief but thorough search for a replacement for Mullen, who is the new head coach at Mississippi State.
Addazio, who also served as offensive coordinator at Indiana before joining UF’s staff in 2005, has been with Coach Meyer six years (four at Florida and two at Notre Dame).
“I’m excited to keep the continuity of our play calling within our current staff,” said Meyer. “Steve has played a key role in our offense in his time at Florida. Our entire offensive staff is involved in game planning and scripting plays. As always, I will remain very involved in the offensive game plan.
“We will still run the same type of offense. We will continue to put the ball in the hands of our best players, spread the field and try to take advantage of the best matchups. Billy Gonzales, Kenny Carter and John Hevesy will continue to be involved in the offensive game planning and play calling as they have all year.”
Addazio is a 23-year coaching veteran and is completing his fourth year at Florida. He will be coaching in his ninth bowl game and has been on the coaching staff of five conference champions and will be making his second coaching appearance in a National Championship game.
“I’m honored to be named offensive coordinator,” said Addazio. “I’m extremely humbled because I know it is a group effort of our offensive staff and players that have made us successful and will continue to make us successful. Coach Meyer’s track record obviously speaks for itself with his previous coordinators.”
The offensive coordinator position came open a few days after the Southeastern Conference Championship Game when Mullen became the third former offensive coordinator under Meyer to be named head coach. (Mike Sanford Head Coach at UNLV, offensive coordinator at Utah, 2002-04; Gregg Brandon former Head Coach at Bowling Green, offensive coordinator at Bowling Green, 2001-02).
Florida’s offense had a banner year in 2008. The Gators set a school record with 587 points (ranked No. 1 in SEC and No. 3 in nation) and they became the only team in SEC history to score 42 or more points in seven consecutive games. The Gators lead the SEC in scoring (42.4 ppg), total offense (442.2 ypg), rushing offense (229.8 ypg) and pass efficiency (174.4). Quarterback Tim Tebow leads the SEC in pass efficiency (176.7) and Percy Harvin leads the SEC in scoring (8.73 ppg).
Florida Sports Information Department contributed to this story.