Gators head coach Jim McElwain is not alarmed by the departure of several support personnel who have left for full-time coaching opportunities. That is part of his organizational plan. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA)
In The (Gator) Zone: McElwain Retools Support Staff, McMurtry Shines, More Tidbits
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators coach Jim McElwain is in the midst of his second spring camp at Florida, and like his first a year ago, McElwain is juggling much more than what takes place at practice.
As the Gators try to sort out roles on the field, McElwain continues to sort out positions behind the scenes. Several members of Florida's internal support staff have moved on since the end of last season, most recently graduate assistants James Rowe and Justin Hinds.
Rowe and Hinds left to join former UF quarterback Kerwin Bell as full-time assistant coaches on Bell's inaugural staff at Valdosta State.
"I'm excited for our guys,'' McElwain said. "I don't know if Valdosta State is going to name themselves the Gators or what."
Other Gators support staff to depart include former USF quarterback Marquel Blackwell (Toledo running backs coach), John Garrett (Richmond offensive coordinator), Marc Nudelberg (Nevada special teams coach), and John Van Dam (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Southern Illinois).
In addition, former UF defensive lineman Duke Lemmens has changed roles and replaced Mike Peterson as a coordinator on Florida's strength and conditioning staff. Peterson left last month for a coaching position at South Carolina.
The departures are anything but alarming for McElwain.
"It's pretty cool, isn't it?'' he said. "Part of why you do that is to help guys grow in the profession. To see them have an opportunity to go and get jobs from those spots, that's why we do this.
"It's our responsibility as coaches to help guys get into the profession and be able to move on and keep expanding your network. For us, we look at it as an opportunity not to plug in the same guy into that spot, but now it gives you an opportunity look at some areas and say 'best available.' ''
McElwain said he learned the importance of behind-the-scenes analysts during his time at Alabama working for Nick Saban.
Coincidentally, as McElwain refurbishes his team on the inside, his most recent addition came from Alabama. The Gators have added Ryan Smith as a program assistant. Smith, the former head coach at Gainesville High, spent last season as an offensive analyst with the Crimson Tide.
McElwain recently added former NFL assistant Bret Ingalls as a program assistant and Keith Murphy, who spent the past two seasons as tight ends/special teams coach at Southern Illinois, as special teams quality control analyst.
"We aren't even close to what other programs are doing and yet what we are bringing in are needs in those spots,'' he said. "We still don't have the numbers, but it isn't a numbers game, it's the quality of the guys you got in there. I feel really good about that piece and we are getting there.
"That's a yearly evaluation as to what your needs are within the organization. There's a different set of needs every year and that's something we are able to do and again, our administration sees the value and understands why and what, so that's been really good for us."
*****
MCMURTRY MAKES MARK
The UF gymnastics team closed the regular season in dramatic fashion on Friday. The Gators not only defeated North Carolina, but senior Bridget Sloan capped her home career with a perfect 10 on the floor routine.
That's what you call making an exit. Alex McMurtry
But as Sloan's dynamic career nears a close, sophomore Alex McMurtry appears on the verge of stardom. McMurtry nailed her second 10 of the season on uneven bars – the only gymnast in the country this season to record a perfect score on the apparatus – to become only the third UF gymnast to have multiple 10s in the event during the same season.
She joined Sloan, who accomplished the feat in 2015, and former Gator Melanie Sinclair, who did it in 2007. McMurtry anchored the event for Florida and brought the O'Dome crowd to its feet.
"When I got that anchoring position last year, I was terrified,'' she said. "I always think of the anchor position as being Sloan, being the strongest athlete out there, and bars has never been my event. This year, being able to get the second perfect 10 has given me confidence."
While Sloan is the unquestioned leader on this year's team, McMurtry has emerged as a key piece of the program's future success. The Gators compete in the SEC Championship on Saturday in North Little Rock, Ark.
*****
SWEET VICTORY
The Florida women's tennis team turned to Flo Rida for some inspiration last weekend when defending national champion Vanderbilt paid a visit to the Gators' house.
Using Flo Rida's "My House" as a rally call, the Gators knocked off the Commodores 4-2 to avenge three losses to Vanderbilt a season ago. Roland Thornqvist And none other than Gators sophomore Josie Kuhlman clinched the winning point. Kuhlman lost three deciding matches against Vanderbilt as a freshman.
"The fact Josie was the one who clinched was just extra sweet,'' Gators head coach Roland Thornqvist said.
The Gators rewarded a season-high crowd of more than 600 with their biggest win to date.
"I think the whole city of Gainesville knew about the three losses last year,'' Thornqvist said. "Our players also used the crowd very well."
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