Florida assistant coach Dan McCarney interviews for New Mexico job

Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney on Sunday interviewed for the head coaching job at New Mexico, Florida coach Urban Meyer confirmed Sunday night.

McCarney received a recommendation from Meyer, who was hired at Bowling Green by the man who is now the New Mexico AD. Meyer said he spoke to his former boss last week on McCarney’s behalf.

McCarney is a former Iowa State head coach.

"Dan McCarney is the winningest coach in Iowa State history,'' Meyer said. "When I hired him, I knew he was was well-respected and that's part of the deal. The job he's done with our defensive line speaks for itself.''

UF offensive coordinator Dan Mullen has also “had conversations’’ with officials about the Mississipi State head coaching job, but Meyer said he is not a finalist for the job, as has been reported.

It's official: McCarney goes to Gators

The University of Florida has officially announced what was reported here four hours ago, that USF assistant head coach and defensive line coach Dan McCarney has joined Urban Meyer's staff in the same capacity.

"Dan is a great addition to our coaching staff," Meyer said in a statement. "His experience as a head coach will be invaluable. He has a proven record as a recruiter and a development of talent and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a coach and a person."

McCarney spent one season with the Bulls, reuniting with coach Jim Leavitt after 12 seasons as head coach at Iowa State. In Gainesville, he will replace Greg Mattison, who had been co-defensive coordinator for three seasons and has accepted a job as defensive line coach of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

"I'm thrilled about joining the Gator Nation," McCarney said in a statement. "I have the utmost respect for Coach Meyer and the Florida football program. It is a dream come true for me and my wife, and we are looking forward to the opportunity."

While money isn't likely the motivating factor in the move, McCarney should make significantly more at Florida than he did at USF. He made $140,000 in 2007 as USF's second-highest-paid assistant; that same salary would have been the second-lowest among Florida's assistants. Mattison and co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong each made $290,000 last year.

-- GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

The University of Florida has officially announced what was reported here four hours ago, that USF assistant head coach and defensive line coach Dan McCarney has joined Urban Meyer's staff in the same capacity.

"Dan is a great addition to our coaching staff," Meyer said in a statement. "His experience as a head coach will be invaluable. He has a proven record as a recruiter and a development of talent and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a coach and a person."

McCarney spent one season with the Bulls, reuniting with coach Jim Leavitt after 12 seasons as head coach at Iowa State. In Gainesville, he will replace Greg Mattison, who had been co-defensive coordinator for three seasons and has accepted a job as defensive line coach of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

"I'm thrilled about joining the Gator Nation," McCarney said in a statement. "I have the utmost respect for Coach Meyer and the Florida football program. It is a dream come true for me and my wife, and we are looking forward to the opportunity."

While money isn't likely the motivating factor in the move, McCarney should make significantly more at Florida than he did at USF. He made $140,000 in 2007 as USF's second-highest-paid assistant; that same salary would have been the second-lowest among Florida's assistants. Mattison and co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong each made $290,000 last year.

-- GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

McCarney to take Gators job

The University of Florida is expected to announce today that USF defensive line coach Dan McCarney is accepting a position on Urban Meyer's coaching staff.

McCarney, who coached one season with the Bulls after being head coach at Iowa State, is expected to carry the title of assistant head coach and defensive line coach, as he did with the Bulls.

He has interviewed this offseason for head coaching jobs at Northern Illinois and South Alabama, but is expected to choose the Gators instead.

McCarney will replace Greg Mattison, who is leaving the Gators after three seasons to take a job with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. McCarney shined in his one season with the Bulls, helping sophomore defensive end George Selvie become a consensus All-American who led the nation in tackles for loss.

-- GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
(Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)

The University of Florida is expected to announce today that USF defensive line coach Dan McCarney is accepting a position on Urban Meyer's coaching staff.

McCarney, who coached one season with the Bulls after being head coach at Iowa State, is expected to carry the title of assistant head coach and defensive line coach, as he did with the Bulls.

He has interviewed this offseason for head coaching jobs at Northern Illinois and South Alabama, but is expected to choose the Gators instead.

McCarney will replace Greg Mattison, who is leaving the Gators after three seasons to take a job with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. McCarney shined in his one season with the Bulls, helping sophomore defensive end George Selvie become a consensus All-American who led the nation in tackles for loss.

-- GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
(Getty Images. Click to enlarge.)

Who's the greatest Gator of them all?

Who's the greatest of all Gators? Hard to say. But on and off the the playing field, there are many to consider. Here are our favorites.

Top 5 greatest Gators:

5. Wilber Marshall: All-America and finalist for Lombardi Award in 1982 and 1983. Also a first-team selection in 1999 to UF's Team of the Century. Selected in 1999 as UF's Defensive Player of the Century.

4. Jack Youngblood: Thought by many to be the best defensive end in school history. Youngblood was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992; also the first player from Florida to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame (2001).

3. Emmit Smith: One of the most highly recruited high school players of his generation, Smith went on to break 58 school records en route to rushing for 3,928 yards and  36 touchdowns -- while playing just three seasons in Gainesville.

2. Steve Spurrier: As a player, he won the Heisman Trophy. In 12 seasons as coach, he led Florida to a national title, six SEC championships and six SEC East titles. He also coached a Heisman winner (Danny Wuerffel), a Heisman runnerup (Rex Grossman) and 20 first-team All Americans.

1. Danny Wuerffel: 1996 Heisman Tropy winner. Completed his career in 1996 as one of the most efficient and productive quarterbacks in college football history. Two-time recipient of the O'Brien National Quarterback of the Year Award (1995-96). Won more SEC titles than any other Florida QB.

How the BCS berth was won

Who voted for Florida? Who voted for Michigan? Here is a list of the 62 voters (Ohio State's Jim Tressel abstained) and their vote in the USA Today coaches poll.

COACHES VOTING FOR FLORIDA:

• Chuck Amato, North Carolina State
• Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
• Jack Bicknell III, Lousiana Tech
• Bobby Bowden, Florida State
• Tommy Bowden, Clemson
• Jeff Bower, Southern Miss
• Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green
• Art Briles, Houston
• Watson Brown, Alabama-Birmingham
• John Bunting, North Carolina
• Bill Callahan, Nebraska
• Larry Coker, Miami
• Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State
• Darryl Dickey, North Texas
• Bill Doba, Washington State
• Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M
• Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee
• Walt Harris, Stanford
• Dan Hawkins, Colorado
• Pat Hill, Fresno State
• Steve Kragthorpe, Tulsa
• Rocky Long, New Mexico
• Sonny Lubick, Colorado State
• Dan McCarney, Iowa State
• Les Miles, LSU
• Shane Montgomery, Miami-Ohio
• Houston Nutt, Arkansas
• Tom O'Brien, Boston College
• Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Bobby Petrino, Louisville
• Mark Richt, Georgia
• Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia
• Bobby Ross, Army
• Howard  Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic
• Mark Snyder, Marshall
• Frank Solich, Ohio
• Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
• Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee
• Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• Jeff Tedford, California
• Dick Tomey, San Jose State
• Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
• Tyrone Willingham, Washington
• Ron Zook, Illinois

COACHES WHO VOTED FOR MICHIGAN:

• Mike Bellotti, Oregon
• Larry Blakeney, Troy
• Mack Brown, Texas
• Lloyd Carr, Michigan
• Randy Edsall, Connecticut
• Joe Glenn, Wyoming
• Terry Hoeppner, Indiana
• Brady Hoke, Ball State
• Brian Kelly, Central Michigan
• Mike Leach, Texas Tech
• Joe Novak, Northern Illinois
• George O'Leary, Central Florida
• Gary Patterson, Texas Christian
• Mike Riley, Oregon State
• Greg Schiano, Rutgers
• John L. Smith, Michgan State
• Joe Tiller, Purdue
• Charlie Weis, Notre Dame