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Sports

Nussmeier named new Florida offensive coordinator

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Gainesville, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Former Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has accepted the same position with Florida, the Gators' athletic department announced Wednesday.

It's the first major hire made by new Gators head coach Jim McElwain, who left Colorado State earlier this month to replace the fired Will Muschamp.

Nussmeier, who supplanted McElwain as Alabama's offensive coordinator after the latter was named Colorado State's head coach in December of 2011, became available when Michigan dismissed Brady Hoke at the conclusion of a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2014.

The onetime NFL quarterback and 1993 Walter Payton Award recipient previously worked with McElwain on John L. Smith's staff at Michigan State from 2003-05. Nussmeier was the Spartans' quarterbacks coach and McElwain an assistant head coach in charge of wide receivers.

"Doug and I have worked together on the same staff and I've known him for years," McElwain said. "We are like thinkers in that he will adapt to the players we have in the program and develop them as we continue to evolve."

Nussmeier had a successful run upon taking over for McElwain at Alabama, with the Crimson Tide establishing school records for points scored (542) and total offense while winning the 2012 BCS national championship. Alabama ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency the following season, in which quarterback A.J. McCarron finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

His offense at Michigan didn't produce the same success, however, with the Wolverines averaging a modest 20.9 points per game and ranking 110th in FBS in passing yards.

Nussmeier also replaced McElwain as offensive coordinator at Fresno State in 2008 following the new Gators head coach's move to Alabama. He was there one year before joining Steve Sarkisian's staff as the OC at Washington, where he spent three seasons and helped the Huskies to a pair of bowl games.

"I'm excited to reunite with Coach Mac -- we obviously have a long history and share similar philosophies," Nussmeier said. "I'm honored to join The Gator Nation and work for one of the most storied programs in all of college football."

Nussmeier passed for 10,824 yards during his collegiate career at Idaho and played five seasons in the NFL with New Orleans and Indianapolis from 1994-98.