At this point in the University of Florida's head coaching search, there's probably a better chance you can name all the coaches that have been linked to the school's vacancy more easily than all those who haven't.
A selection process that's just a few weeks in the making has already run through a massive gauntlet of names and rumored candidates. Fans of the Gators will call it due diligence; detractors might call it a different word.
Florida Kicking Tires On Josh McDaniels?
Now rumors have leaked this week that Chip Kelly, formerly of the Oregon Ducks and now head coach of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, is the latest individual on Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley's radar. CBS Philly was the first to the story.
The Gators' professed inclination is to hire an offensive-minded new coach, and the Ducks and Eagles both put up a massive amount of points and yardage under Kelly's watch. Perhaps the surprising thing isn't necessarily that the Gators are contacting Kelly -- it's that they contacted anyone else before him.
Hugh Freeze Leaving Ole Miss For Florida?
Kelly for his part insists he's happy in the NFL. CBS Philly quoted him as saying he's "burned the boats" when it comes to the possibility of a return to the college ranks.
In addition to Kelly, New England Patriots' coordinator Josh McDaniels is also currently being vetted by UF. Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, Oklahoma's Bob Stoop, and Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy were some of the initial favorites for the job, but their prospects were ultimately dismissed. Speculation centered on Hugh Freeze Sunday, but the Ole Miss coached decided to stay put after the Rebels matched Florida's alleged contract offer of $4 million a year.
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