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Florida Football: Does anybody want to be the Gators’ next coach?

By Matthew Bartlett

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Josh Grady #12 of the Florida Gators takes the field during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Josh Grady #12 of the Florida Gators takes the field during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Florida football fired Jim McElwain and missed out on their No. 1 candidate. Will this once-mighty program be scrambling for a new head coach?

Florida parted ways with head coach Jim McElwain following back-to-back SEC East titles. Their intent was to replace him quickly with a championship coach, but that might have turned into wishful thinking. The Gators got a jump on the competition, firing McElwain before Tennessee fired Butch Jones and UCLA fired Jim Mora. That advantage has proven to be short-lived as Chip Kelly, the Gators’ No. 1 candidate, has chosen the Bruins over UF.

The Florida brand is one of the most well-known and respected in college football. The recruiting advantages in the Sunshine State are multitudinous. That should make the Gators’ head coaching position one of the most desired jobs available this offseason, but that might not be the case.

Scott Frost, the current head coach at UCF, figures to be the next candidate on the Gators’ wish list. Frost, however, is a Nebraska alum. Huskers’ coach Mike Riley was fired on Saturday and talks of a contract between Frost and his alma mater being in the works have circulated through the Thanksgiving holidays. Frost is likely going back to Nebraska, leaving Florida with the leftovers.

Are those two misses bad luck or is it indicative of a problem with Florida? Jim McElwain was vocal with his criticism of the administration and their commitment to facilities, in particular. Several key players were suspended for off-field issues this year. That’s largely on McElwain, but it’s also indicative of a program culture that has soured.

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Florida will hire somebody, but it might be a bit further down on their list than they had hoped. Georgia is surging and even South Carolina has fielded a top 25 team. The years of dominance by the Gators might be coming to an end.

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