Florida Gators interim head coach Randy Shannon announced on Monday that Chris Rumph would be taking over his former position as defensive coordinator for the remainder of the 2017 season.
Rumph formerly helped the Alabama Crimson Tide to two national championships in 2011 and 2012 as defensive line coach before coming to Florida to lead a strong defensive front since 2015.
“I’ve got be a part of the whole defense and offense and special teams,” Shannon said. “So, I’m promoting Chris Rumph, a guy who’s done it, that’s prepared for it. He’s ready to do a great job.”
With that, there may be some changes to the Gators’ defense come Saturday. As Shannon takes over his responsibilities as head coach, he will not be over Rumph’s head the entire time.
Rumph will take Shannon’s seat upstairs as defensive quality control assistant Robb Akey takes over coaching the defensive line. Shannon said on Tuesday that he will have the freedom to call plays however he sees fit.
What that means is yet to be seen. Rumph may stick to the same type of play calling Shannon has conducted all season, or he may put his own spin on things with more blitzes—something Florida has done very little of this year.
“I don’t know what he’s going to call,” Shannon said. Everybody’s different. It comes in situations … That’s one thing about coaching, you have the freedom to do whatever, and coaches can make suggestions.”
As Rumph makes his debut as a defensive play caller, he has practiced being in this situation before. Shannon gave him his blessing to call the game on his own because he knows he is prepared for it.
“One thing we did this spring and this summer, I put Coach Rumph in a situation, because things happen, where maybe one game I would be sick,” Shannon said. “Then all of a sudden if I’m not able to call it, he’d call it. So, we did those things in the summer. We did those things in the spring. We’ve worked together very well throughout this whole season and I think he’s ready for it.”
Rumph prepared so he would be ready to call a game at some point if necessary, but he likely never imagined his first shot would come in this situation. It may not be ideal, but it is the situation at hand.
He now has the freedom to make changes to a defense that gave up five touchdowns to Georgia less than a week ago, and it is his chance to show he can be more than just a good position coach.