Patient McElwain wants to get receivers coach right

On Monday the University of Florida announced the hire of most of Jim McElwain’s inaugural staff. McElwain had already gone out and hired Geoff Collins away from Mississippi State to run the defense and Doug Nussmeier from Michigan to run the offense but there were position coaches to be named.

McElwain’s staff is almost complete but there is one more job to be filled — who will coach the wide receivers?

Florida has had a new position coach in each of the past six seasons and next year will make seven. McElwain is aware of the recent history at the position and that plays into the fact that he is waiting before making a hire.

“I don’t know that I had a timetable for anybody, nor do I have a timetable for anybody within the infrastructure within the organization in general,” McElwain said. “The key is to get the best guy, the guy that is going to affect these young men’s lives, allow them to perfect their craft. There’s a lot of things going on out there in the world of football. I do know this, I think you guys will be happy with him.”

Fans can grow impatient. McElwain has taken great care in assembling the coaching staff that he has now. The time it took to make each hire isn’t for lack of interest, “We’ve got a ton of interest, OK, as in every position,” McElwain said. “There’s a lot of components that go into that.”

“Look, am I just going to throw a dart at that board over there? No. Do I have a firm short list? Yeah. Am I ready to pull the trigger, pull the plug right now and go at it? We’ll make it right.”

The turnover that Florida has had at the coaching position has undoubtedly affected the developmental progress and production from the receivers. Sure, you can point to poor quarterback play, poor offensive line play, but make no mistake, the receivers weren’t making the situation better. Andre Debose just finished a six year career at Florida and he never once had the same position coach.

“I think part of what we need to do,” McElwain began. “And that is part of the reason I’m being probably so patient, in the positions to make sure we get that right ingredient, that right person, you know, to give these guys some normality in their lives.

Last season, former Gators quarterback Chris Leak coached the position. It was Leak’s first time coaching at this level and the players generally like him. McElwain was non-comitial on Leak’s future with Florida. McElwain was clear that Leak would not be on the coaching staff but he did leave the door open for Leak to fill some sort of role with Florida moving forward.

“Not right now. He isn’t, and yet, who knows as we move forward,” McElwain said of Leak’s current status. “In what capacity, or any capacity. Again, there’s a lot to be done before we move forward on that.”

Fans remember Leak fondly from his playing days and would like him to stay with the program. Also important for McElwain, recruits remember Leak leading the Gators to a national championship in 2006 and he has had an impact on the recruiting trail.

The recruiting dead period will end on January 16 but McElwain won’t let that affect his decision. He’s confident in the coaches he has surrounded himself with, confident in his plan for the program and confident in the brand that the University of Florida is.

“I coached the position for a long time and had some pretty good players. So has [Greg Nussmeier], and we’ve had a lot of luck with it,” said McEwain. “Obviously it helps from a man-power stand point because we’ll be on the road. So you guys are asking for timelines, and I’m going to tell you we’re going to do the best thing that’s best for the University of Florida and the Gators. So, it’ll happen.”

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

2 COMMENTS

  1. Great Article Nick! I like the way Coach Mac has a strategic plan and is looking for the right fit for the organization as well as the players. Looking forward to seeing a much better product on the field. Let’s Go Gators!