Urban Meyer wastes little time in replacing Gators' receivers coach

GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer hired Central Michigan receivers coach Zach Azzanni on Friday to replace former UF receivers coach Billy Gonzales.

Azzanni was an assistant head coach Central Michigan from 2007-2009. He was a graduate assistant on Meyer's first staff at Bowling Green.

"[Azzanni] is a tireless worker, relentless recruiter and a great teacher of fundamentals," Meyer said. "He is also familiar with our philosophy and will be a great fit with our players and staff."

Meyer hired Azzanni less than 24 hours after Gonzales left Florida for Louisiana State. One of Meyer's most loyal lieutenants, Gonzales was the Gators' recruiting coordinator and was assigned to talent-rich Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Azzanni inherits a talented but inexperienced receiving corps. Florida could lose its top three receivers after the Sugar Bowl. Riley Cooper and David Nelson are seniors and junior tight end Aaron Hernandez, who recently won the John Mackey Award, could leave early for the NFL Draft.

Zach Azzanni File
1999-2000 Wide Receivers Coach, Valparaiso
2001-02 Graduate Assistant (Offense), Bowling Green
2003-06 Wide Receivers Coach, Bowling Green
2007-09 Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers, Central Michigan

-jo-

Comments

[Gator5000e]

This looks like a good hire. The kids he has been coaching have put up some big receiving numbers. Now we need the OC from UNLV to replace Addazio and we will be all set on offense.

[Curious]

Is it just me, or does this guy kind of look like a skeezy version of Jo Goodman?

[The curse of Art Kehoe]

I like him.
He looks kind of dreamy.
I wonder if he "swings" the other way.

[atlanta movers]

Any grumblings on the DC or possibly OC coaching fronts?

[U get Mickey ears in your ChUmps Bowl goody bag too]

4-5 stars = 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in last four years

2-3 stars = 1 NC in last 18 years and 4th place in candy conference

bUt U do have SWAGGER and DESIRE