Report: Florida Gators to hire Geoff Collins as defensive coordinator

Just one day into the recruiting dead period, it appears that Florida head coach Jim McElwain has made his first hire for his coaching staff.

According to Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated, the Gators will hire Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins to the same position.

Mississippi State DC Geoff Collins is expected to accept the same position at Florida per a source.

— Thayer Evans (@ThayerEvansSI) December 16, 2014

ESPN’s Joe Schad reports the deal with Collins is for three years.

Collins has been Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. During his time with the Bulldogs, Collins’ defense was top-five in the SEC in scoring defense both years and Collins was given the nickname, “Minister of Mayhem.”

He was also co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Mississippi State from 2011-12. His only other prior experience in the SEC was in 2007 when he was the director of player personnel at Alabama.

With the Collins hire, current defensive coordinator and interim head coach DJ Durkin looks to be on his way out of Gainesville. He has been connected with the DC openings at Texas A&M and North Carolina.