Behind the Scenes: Gators defensive backs coach Callahan's departure
On Friday, UF announced that defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan would not be returning to the coaching staff after just one year on the job. Callahan was paid $300,000 this past season and slated to receive $325,000 in the final season of his two-year contract.
Now Inside the Gators takes a closer look at the impact of Callahan's departure and what it means for recruiting, as well as giving a few potential candidates to keep an eye on who could fill the vacancy.
SOME INSIGHT AS TO WHAT LED TO CALLAHAN’S DEPARTURE
Ultimately, Callahan didn’t prove to be the fit Florida wanted at defensive backs coach.
According to one source close to the team, the 30-year-old Callahan “really didn't coach the guys that were already in place” in the secondary.
“He'd mostly work with the younger players, leaving the others to basically run their own practices and in the game the coaches called in the plays and they executed, or tried to,” the source told ITG. “He was a nice person, but didn't seem to do much coaching from what I saw."
Though it appears Callahan was already falling out of favor, from what we were told the tipping point occurred during a recent staff recruiting meeting with a very verbal disagreement between Callahan and another staff member which helped bring to the forefront some of Callahan's liabilities along the recruiting trail.
One high school coach who resides in Callahan’s recruiting area of central Florida who spoke on terms of anonymity said that Callahan was getting out-recruited by other coaches in his region.
HOW CALLAHAN’S DEPARTURE IMPACTS RECRUITING
“From a recruiting standpoint this shouldn't have a big effect on how the 2016 class plans out. The Gators have a heavy load of defensive backs in the class currently but for the most part other coaches should be able to hold together the bond.
“Out of state defensive backs Jeawon Taylor, Antonio Nelson, and Quincy Lenton were handled by Geoff Collins. Miami native C.J. McWilliams has been handled primarily by South Florida recruiter Randy Shannon. In the past former cornerback commitment Jayvaughn Myers also noted his relationship with Callahan dwindling, and gave that as one of the reasons he chose to open up his former Florida commitment.
“The Gators top target at the position Kristian Fulton also remains in play as well despite the loss of his position coach. It's been Louisiana area recruiter Tim Skipper that has lead the charge for the pursuit of Fulton. So as a whole this loss should not affect the Gators too much in their recruiting efforts.”
– Inside the Gators recruiting analyst Blake Alderman
A FEW POSSIBLE CANDIDATES TO KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE JOB
Corey Raymond, LSU defensive backs coach
--Birthdate and hometown: Sept. 28, 1969; New Iberia, Lousiana
--Coaching resume: LSU DBs coach (2012-present), Nebraska secondary coach (2011), Utah State cornerbacks coach (2009-10), LSU assistant strength coach 2007-08), LSU intern (2006)
--Current salary: $375,000 per season through 2017 (per The Times-Picayune)
--The skinny: Over the past couple of years in Baton Rouge, Raymond, a former cornerback for LSU from 1987-91, has helped cultivate one of the best secondaries in the nation. Raymond has remained loyal to the Tigers for years despite reportedly seeing other offers, but if Florida could land a replacement for Callahan like Raymond it would be a home-run hire and would certainly serve as a boost in the Gators’ recruitment of Rivals100 cornerback Kristian Fulton. However, an obstacle remains --- Raymond just recently signed a contract extension worth $375,000 per season that is set to keep him in Baton Rouge through 2017. You have to feel like McElwain's footing in Gainesville is more secure than Les Miles' in Baton Rouge, but would he be willing to leave home for another SEC program is the question?
Deshea Townsend, Mississippi State cornerbacks coach/assistant coach
--Birthdate and hometown: Sept. 8, 1975; Batesville, Mississippi
--Coaching resume: Mississippi State cornerbacks coach (2013-present), Arizona Cardinals assistant defensive backs coach (2011-12)
--Current salary: $312,500 (per USA Today)
--The skinny: Townsend worked with Geoff Collins in Starkville for two seasons and achieved some success before Collins took the defensive coordinator job at Florida. Overall, Townsend would bring recruiting ties from the state of Alabama and would be an upgrade over Callahan in that regard.
Corey Bell, FAU assistant coach/secondary coach/assistant director of player -personnel
--Birthdate and hometown: January, 18, 1972; Miami, Florida
--Coaching resume: FAU secondary coach/assistant coach/assist director of player personnel (2014), American Senior High School head coach (2011-13), Miami director of football operations (2007-10), Miami Edison Senior High School head coach (1997-07), Miami Edison Senior High defensive backs coach (1996-97)
--Current salary: Undisclosed
--The skinny: Bell has strong experience recruiting in south Florida and has a tie on Florida’s staff in Randy Shannon, who worked with Bell during his time at UM. Although Bell’s collegiate resume as an assistant coach isn’t very extensive, he’d be an upgrade over Callahan on the recruiting end.
Grady Brown, South Carolina defensive quality control coordinator
--Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
--Graduated from: Alabama A&M (1998)
--Coaching resume: SC secondary coach/assistant special teams coordinator (2012-2015), Southern Mississippi cornerbacks coach (2010-11), LSU defensive intern (2009), Texas Southern safeties coach (2008), Alabama State secondary coach (2002-06), Alabama A&M outside linebackers coach (2001)
--Current salary: Undisclosed
--The skinny: The Gamecocks moved Brown to a support staff role after they brought in co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, who also coached DBs. But now with a new staff in town under Will Muschamp, Brown, who has shown a decent amount of past success on the recruiting trail, may be out of place on this new staff in Columbia.
Torrian Gray, Virginia Tech secondary coach
--Birthdate and hometown: March 18, 1974; Bartow, Florida
--Coaching resume: Virginia Tech defensive backs coach (2006-present); Chicago Bears defensive backs coach
--Current salary: $260,000 on a one-year deal (per The Roanoke Times)
--The skinny: Gray has been with Virginia Tech since 2006 and has long been loyal to the Hokies, who he played for from 1992-96. Even with Frank Beamer retiring and Justin Fuente taking over, Gray remained one of the defensive holdovers on staff. A native of the region of Lakeland, Florida -- notably where 2017 five-star wide receiver James Robinson resides -- Gray would be familiar with Callahan’s recruiting area of central Florida and perhaps be an upgrade.
Derrick Ansley, Kentucky defensive backs coach/co-defensive coordinator
--Hometown: Tallahassee, Alabama
--Graduated from: Troy University, 2005
--Coaching resume: Kentucky assistant coach/cornerbacks coach (2012-14), UCF assistant coach/defensive backs coach (Dec. 2011-Feb. 2012), Alabama defensive graduate assistant (2010-11), Huntingdown College (Ala.) assistant coach/defensive backs coach (2005-09)
--Current salary: $275,900 last year on his previous contract (recently received an undisclosed raise, per The Courier-Journal)
--The skinny: Ansley would bring a host of SEC experience to the table for Florida after having some success at Kentucky helping develop an array of talented defensive backs. He also served as a defensive graduate assistant at Alabama for two seasons while McElwain was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator, so there could be a tie there. However, Ansley recently received a raise in pay and a title promotion at UK after a few other teams expressed interest.
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