There was plenty of new assistants hired in the SEC, but especially in the East, where all three new head coaches will set up shop. Here’s a quick look at the new faces in the division.

FLORIDA

  • TORRIAN GRAY (DEFENSIVE BACKS)

Jim McElwain’s staff only has one new addition, but it’s expected to be a big one. Shortly after National Signing Day, news surfaced that long-time Virginia Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray would replace Kirk Callahan to assume the position with the Gators.

Gray, who coached DBs under Frank Beamer from 2006-15, is respected as a recruiter. The Lakeland, Fla., native should provide a boost with his ties to the area.

He’s also known to develop talent. The Hokies had nine defensive backs selected in the NFL draft during his time coaching the position in Blacksburg, including four that went in the third round or better.

GEORGIA

  • JIM CHANEY (OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS)
  • MEL TUCKER (DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR)
  • SAM PITTMAN (OFFENSIVE LINE)
  • GLENN SCHUMANN (INSIDE LINEBACKERS)
  • JAMES COLEY (RECEIVERS)
  • DELL MCGEE (RUNNING BACKS)
  • SHANE BEAMER (SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, TIGHT ENDS)

Georgia got its man in Kirby Smart. The Bainbridge, Ga., native played for the Bulldogs from 1995-98 and got his first stint in coaching as a Georgia administrative assistant in 1999. Then, he commandeered Alabama’s defense each of the previous seven seasons, during which the Tide win four national championships.

Smart, who was hired on Dec. 6, made three big hires within a week: Jim Chaney, Sam Pittman and Glenn Schumann. Chaney comes to Athens after guiding offenses at Pitt (2015), Arkansas (2013-14) and Tennessee (2009-12) in the seven years prior. As the quarterbacks coach, it’ll also be Chaney’s duty to develop five-star freshman QB Jacob Eason.

Mel Tucker may have been Smart’s biggest hire. Although this is Tucker’s first time holding the defensive coordinator title in college, it’s long overdue. Tucker spent 2008-14 as an NFL coordinator and knows how to develop talent.

Pittman was a huge get for Georgia. The last four offensive lines to lead the SEC in fewest sacks allowed per game have all been coached by Pittman: Arkansas from 2013-15 and Tennessee in 2012. Meanwhile, Arkansas finished in the top 5 in rushing in each of the last three seasons under him. That’s pretty impressive.

Schumann spent the last eight years in Tuscaloosa and didn’t have an on-field role with the team during that time.

Receivers coach James Coley comes over after being the offensive coordinator at Miami (2013-15) and before that at Florida State (2010-12). Running backs coach Dell McGee occupied the same position each of the last two seasons at Georgia Southern, whose run-happy offense led the FBS in rushing yards per game both years.

Shane Beamer will hope some of his legendary father Frank’s special teams expertise has rubbed off on him. The former Virginia Tech associate head coach/running backs coach will also coach tight ends in Athens. Along with several members of this staff, he’s known as an excellent recruiter.

KENTUCKY

  • EDDIE GRAN (OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/RUNNING BACKS)
  • DARIN HINSHAW (PASSING GAME COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS)
  • LAMAR THOMAS (RECEIVERS)

Eddie Gran stepped in to lead Kentucky’s offense in place of Shannon Dawson, whom the team let go after just one season. Gran has plenty of experience in the SEC (11 combined years at Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee) and also worked with head coach Mark Stoops at Florida State. He’ll also coach running backs.

Hinshaw comes over after coaching with Gran at Cincinnati from 2013-15. Gran will call the plays, but Hinshaw will be the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Like Gran, he also spent time at Tennessee, serving as the Vols’ quarterbacks coach from 2010-11 and recruiting coordinator in 2012. The Wildcats should benefit right away from Gran and Hinshaw’s familiarity.

The hiring of Lamar Thomas robbed in-state rival Louisville coach Bobby Petrino of an assistant that had worked under him for the last three seasons at Western Kentucky (2013) and Louisville (2014-15). Thomas is also a member of the Miami Hurricanes’ Hall of Fame and a two-time national champion with the school (1989 and 1991).

MISSOURI

  • JOSH HEUPEL (OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, QUARTERBACKS)
  • DEMONTIE CROSS (DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR)
  • JACKIE SHIPP (DEFENSIVE LINE)
  • GREG BROWN (CORNERBACKS)
  • GLEN ELARBEE (OFFENSIVE LINE)
  • JOE JON FINLEY (TIGHT ENDS)

Like Kirby Smart, new Missouri head coach Barry Odom faces the daunting task of replacing a long-tenured, well-respected head coach.

Odom was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach. He gave his defensive baton to DeMontie Cross, a Missouri alum who also will coach linebackers. Cross spent the last three seasons coaching TCU’s linebackers.

Josh Heupel will be faced with turning around one of the worst offenses in the conference. Heupel, who won a national title as a quarterback himself in 2000, coached Jason White (2003) and Sam Bradford (2008) to Heisman campaigns and is a strong recruiter. He served as the Sooners’ co-offensive coordinator from 2011-14 and coached OU’s quarterbacks from 2006-14.

Missouri is known for its tradition of defensive linemen, and the unit will now be coached by former Arizona State defensive line coach Jackie Shipp. He’ll assume the role after Chris Wilson was hired away by the Philadelphia Eagles in late January, about one month after accepting the role at Missouri.

Greg Brown will coach the Tigers’ cornerbacks. Brown has spent the last 10 years at Power 5 schools coaching defensive backs. Two of his former players (Deon Figures at Colorado in 1992, Gerod Holliman at Louisville in 2014) earned the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive back. A third whom he coached for three years won the honor the year immediately after he moved accepted another job (Chris Hudson at Colorado in 1994).

Glen Elarbee comes over to coach the offensive front after doing so at Arkansas State the last two seasons. His O-line helped the Red Wolves rack up 40 points per game (12th in the FBS) while averaging 231.3 rushing yards per game (15th in the FBS).

Joe Jon Finley will coach tight ends after being Baylor’s offensive quality control assistant last season. As a player at Oklahoma, Finley was an honorable mention All-Big 12 performer as a junior and senior. He played five seasons in the NFL with the 49ers (2008-10), Lions (2010-11) and Panthers (2012).

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • TRAVARIS ROBINSON (DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE BACKS)
  • BOBBY BENTLEY (RUNNING BACKS)
  • COLEMAN HUTZLER (SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, LINEBACKERS)
  • BRYAN MCCLENDON (CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, RECEIVERS)
  • PAT WASHINGTON (TIGHT ENDS)
  • LANCE THOMPSON (ASSISTANT HEAD COACH OF DEFENSE, DEFENSIVE LINE)
  • KURT ROPER (CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, QUARTERBACKS)
  • MIKE PETERSON (OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS)

Continuing with the theme, Will Muschamp has replaced a long-revered head coach in Steve Spurrier.

Muschamp only served one season as defensive coordinator at Auburn before jumping at another chance to be a head coach. His four-year stint at Florida didn’t go as planned, but it did include an 11-2 season in 2012 that saw the Gators reach the Sugar Bowl.

Travaris Robinson got his coordinator gig, becoming the chief of Muschamp’s favorite side of the ball. Robinson, one of three on-field assistants whom Muschamp hired away from Auburn, will also coach defensive backs, which he’s done under Muschamp for the last five seasons.

Bobby Bentley will coach the Gamecocks’ running backs. Bentley — a South Carolina native — was no doubt instrumental in the Gamecocks securing a commitment from his son, the No. 6 pro-style QB for 2017 Jake Bentley, on Thursday.

Coleman Hutzler comes to Columbia as the team’s special teams coordinator and linebackers coach after serving in the same capacities at Boston College. Previously, Hutzler was Florida’s special teams coordinator under Muschamp in 2013 and 2014. Kurt Roper and Bryan McClendon will share the title of co-offensive coordinator, but Roper will call plays and be in charge of the offense.

A familiar SEC assistant will coach tight ends, and that’s Pat Washington. He coached Tennessee’s receivers from 1995-2005, which included the Vols’ undefeated 1998 season and national championship. Washington had been at Missouri in the same role since 2013.

Lance Thompson will be the assistant head coach of defense and also coach South Carolina’s defensive front. Thompson is coming off an impressive performance in which he coached a struggling Auburn defense to a strong 31-10 win against high-powered Memphis, a game that included a defensive touchdown by the opponent. Thompson has 13 years of previous SEC coaching experience at Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Auburn.

Former Florida All-SEC linebacker Mike Peterson, who served as UF’s strength and conditioning coordinator, rounded out Muschamp’s first staff in Columbia as outside linebackers coach. Peterson played 14 years in the NFL with the Colts, Jaguars and Falcons.

TENNESSEE

  • BOB SHOOP (DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR)
  • LARRY SCOTT (TIGHT ENDS)

Some Tennessee fans may have scratched their heads when former defensive coordinator John Jancek was let go, but not many were complaining when UT hired Bob Shoop from Penn State. Shoop has been the captain for defenses that have finished in the top 25 nationally in total yards allowed per game in each of the last five seasons, and he has 13 seasons as a defensive coordinator under his belt.

The Vols also hired former Miami tight ends coach Larry Scott, who spent the last three seasons with Miami. Scott served as the interim coach when the Hurricanes fired Al Golden, finishing 4-2 in the regular season in that capacity.

VANDERBILT

  • JEFF GENYK (SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, RUNNING BACKS)
  • CHRIS MARVE (LINEBACKERS)

Jeff Genyk comes to Vanderbilt with a proven special teams resume, which is what the Commodores sorely need. He spent last season at Northwestern, where he also coached special teams from 1999-2003. Genyk also coached special teams at Wisconsin (2013-14) and California (2010-12) and has five years of head coaching experience at Eastern Michigan (2004-08).

Chris Marve was promoted internally, but he now gains an on-field role with the Commodores as linebackers coach. Marve knows the position well as a four-time All-SEC linebacker at Vandy from 2008-11.