Geoff Collins

New Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain hired Geoff Collins to be his defensive coordinator in Gainesville.

Collins arrived at Mississippi St. in 2011 as the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, but after two years on staff, head coach Dan Mullen decided it was time for a promotion. With Collins fully in charge of the defense in 2013, the Bulldogs ranked in the SEC’s top five in total defense, rushing defense and passing defense.

The Georgia native and Western Carolina alum’s four previous Division I coaching stops as an assistant included Georgia Tech, Alabama (2007, director of player personnel), Central Florida and Florida International. His coaching career began at the small college level in the mid 1990s. He played outside linebacker for the Catamounts from 1989-92.