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.

"Dan did an outstanding job for us this season. I have known him since 1989, he's an excellent coach and will always be a good friend," Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said in a statement released by USF. "I couldn't be more impressed with the results he produced on the defensive line for us this season. We are going to miss him and wish him well."

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.

Leavitt now has two defensive openings on his staff, as cornerbacks coach Rich Rachel was moved into a non-coaching position as director of high school relations.

"My family and I have made the difficult decision to leave the University of South Florida," McCarney said in a statement released by USF. "I developed a tremendous bond with the staff and players and I can't say enough good things about them. I was fortunate enough to join the USF program for one of the most memorable seasons of my career and I will always have fond memories of my time as a Bull."

Comments

Hey GA how bout you run the Sapp Idea by Leavitt? I think it would really help out the line and recruiting even though it probably never going to happen it was just an idea I had... we can use some kind of big name recently retired pro... To boost play and recruiting...
Also any updates on Brumbaugh and the other BBall Targets??

[Paul Wall]

Yeah we are getting quality minutes from BJ and it looks like Verdejo is playing energized. It must be USF's day because even Bozeman nailed a 3!

[B^S]

Game is on ESPNU.
32-21 Bulls at the half. We were up by 15 at one point but DePaul had a little run towards the end of the half we ended up killing off. The boys are playing good up there. D. Jones has 3 3's.

[Ken]

I love the Sapp idea--let's have him as the volunteer line coach, a la Tino Martinez with the baseball team. Might be good for him and us. Maybe we could even get him to donate a little something to help the cause. But, Greg, you'd have to be paying pretty startling odds to get me to want to put a dollar on it.

[Paul Wall]

Nice to see nothing written for the DePaul game....

[stealtogetintousf]

Steve,
when have you ever made sense???? Obviously your boyfriend has been doing your logic homework.

[steve oneal]

I believe a person can aspire to be the best position coach and NOT have the desire to be a head coach. I don't belive that makes that person less diligent or any less hardworking than someone that wants to be head coach. Both can be just as successful as the other and MONEY isn't the only thing that defines success. These coaches are doing what they love and getting good money for it. To say that just because someone dosn't want to be the CEO of the company that they will not work as hard is wrong. Is Monte Kiffin a slacker? I think he's happy running just the defense and he could have been a head coach if he wanted. Good luck to McCarney. GO BULLS!

[cbab]

who would want to stay at a school with absolutely no morals??? USF or FL, hmmmmmmm.... tough decision!

[sailingbull]

Sapp sounds like an interesting experiment, but would you really want the kind of baggage he brings to a college coaching position? Maybe he'd work out in the NFL dealing with men, not so much with kids.

[Dave W]

He is gone from UF in a year, but I was really hoping he would stay with us. He's a great coach with lots of experience to pass on.

But someone made a good point- the line struggled mightily against the run in the 3 of the losses.

His time was a benefit to the program, but this move is a bit of a slap in the face.

And for the guy who said we should only hire assistants who want to stay around, that's how WVU ended up with Bill Stewart. Plus, I would rather have dynamic coaches (young or old) looking to move up in the coaching ranks. It means that they will be motivated and hard working and try their best to get their positions as strong as possible. A younger coach who just settles into a role not looking to advance may not necessarily work as hard. This doesn't apply to the older coaches, who likely don't want to move again, but may be somewhat out of touch with the younger generation.

Sapp!!!! We don't need that scumbag anywhere near our players!

We need our d-line to work on stopping the run not rolling blunts and being rude to fans.

[702JV]

Living in Las Vegas and knowing the betting line, G.A., your statement makes me think you have some insider info since your risking a dollar for a sure thing lol

[G.A.]

I got a dollar says Warren Sapp isn't the new d-line coach. Takers?

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think talking to Warren Sapp is a very fresh idea..

But you would think Sapp would want some time away from the daily grind of football. And being a coach is long long hours...especially for a guy who has 5 mil in the bank

[mm]

Are you serious about the recruiting thing? Florida consistantly has a top recruiting class. Do you really think that Urban is going to worry about USF's recruiting "secrets"? I think the opportunity presented itself and there were too many positives to pass it up. The pay, more national attention, higher rated players (yes three 5* tackles, three 4* DE on the line) and the fact that its the SEC. He will probably leave after a few years. That is unless he gets a ring before that.

[Rich]

No wonder he wants to be a head coach again. Look at the salary difference between a DC and head coach. Meyer makes like $3.5M and Strong makes $290k. Same with Leavitt and his staff. 10 times the pay to be top dog.

[Ken]

Shame he's gone, but we knew it would happen. Is UF a better spot to launch from that USF? I don't know. The money is better and that's not nothing. The program has a better national reputation. I don't know whether he has kids, but if so, I'd question making them move after one year (new school, friends, etc.), when they'll probably have to do it again in another year. Otherwise, it's a judgment call, and his judgment was to move. I wish him bad luck at UF!

[DELdaBULL]

If you hire assistant coaches that do not want to be hed coches, that is a waste of time. Good luck to Dan. If he is still around when we play UF I home our Oline make UF's Dline look like scrubs!

[JP]

Hey this mayb crazy but why doesnt Leavitt try and get The recently retired Warren Sapp to coach dline for us? He is a big name in football and the Tampa Area and I think he still lives here, If we can get him it would really boost our recruiting and Dlinemen would love to learn from one of the best ever... Its just something I thought of when I read this...

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I know I am not an football expert.. I just think it is a dumb move.

I know the whole work for the "elite program" nonsense.. But McCarney had it rolling at USF. I think he would have gotten serious consideration for a solid head coaching job if he just hung around.

I see nothing that UF offers that USF doesn't offer from an assitant point of view.

Are you going to hire the UF defensive line coach over the USF defensive line coach who developed a first team all america and could have produced another one.

I see it on paper -- but I think if I was an AD -- i can't see myself picking the guy from UF -- over the guy from USF.

USF has nothing to do with his inability to get a good head coaching job.

Time was on his side at USF.

I think something special is about to happen here.

[702JV]

I just threw up in my mouth...ughhh...anyone but the Gators, I think I could even stomach West Virginia over the Gators!

[USF95]

Everyone talks about what a great job he did with Selvie. I don't know about that. He did a good job but Selvie was absolutely dominant at the end of 2006. You could see it coming with or without McCarney. Bernard Clark did a better job with that 2006 D-line. McCarney inherited three returning starters on the d-line in 2007 while Clark was given two first year starter juniors and two freshman and in 2006 and transformed them into a very good unit. McCarney inherited that. It's not that big of a loss. He will be a head coach in 2009 for someone so UF will get one good year out of him. McCarney isn't dumb. He knows that UF's d-line was absolutely awful last year at times but was very young. They will get a lot better without coaching let alone with good coaching. He will look great no matter what he does which will spring him to a head coaching job in 2009.

[USF95]

No big deal since we all know he was gone next year for sure with head coaching job. UF can enjoy him for 2008 because he will be gone after 2008. He has made it very clear from day one that he wants to be a head coach again and I would be shocked if he isn't given that opportunity next year with a mid major program. He would jump at it in a heartbeat. UF can enjoy him for a year because after that he is gone.

[Steve]

man, i'm with delusioned... Now Florida is gonna know all of our recruiting secrets... They've had a tough stretch of recruiting since urban got there... McCarney is bound to turn that around... You're a joke deloser... ha ha ha i made a funny...

[The Truth]

Frack!

Fooking Gaytors!

[Delusioned]

Yes sir, absolutely. USF acted as both an career bridge for McCarney and a training program for the Gators, introducing McCarney to our recruiting connections, inside information on USFs program and for what? Perhaps a few additional sacks? Certainly not ANY run defense instruction. I would rather have the continuity and a coach that spent less time seeking other jobs and more time working on USFs future. We have been EXTREMELY luck with Wally Burnham and I think that may cloud judgment of hiring of ex-head coaches and/or temps. I think its a bad philosophy. I guess we will see how Selvie adjusts to another line coach. I also look forward to seeing him get and lose another head coaching job. I would prefer to see Urban Meyer leave for the NFL and see him in the unemployment line again although that is just another Bulllovers dream.

[CR]

I wish him the best. The reality is that ALL assistant coaches would like to move up to HC. So if an asst. does a good job he would be looked for apromotion. The fact is that the Gator job carries bigger bucks and bigger visibility than the USF one.
He will be a Head coach again soon.

[G.A.]

Delusioned, you'd rather have not had McCarney this season, just for the continuity of someone who won't leave? You won't find many coaches that lock down assistants to keep them from other schools.

[Delusioned]

No more one year contracts with jettisoned coaches. If we cannot keep them long term it is more of a liability than an asset.

[sailingbull]

Greg if money wasn't the motivating factor, then what was? Is there something you're not telling us, or is the Gainseville job just a better springboard to a new head coaching position?

It does seem that the USF coaching staff was a little bit "top heavy" this year. I didn't expect it to remain unchanged.

Congrats, Dan. You got called up from the minors!

[Tom]

Oscar Meyer will say anything to recruit anyone. . .

[Jim]

That bl>ws. I really thought he did an outstanding job. He will be missed.