Florida is expected to hire Joe Houston away from the New England Patriots, according to a report.

That’s per Swamp247’s Jacob Rudner, who notes that Houston will coach Florida’s special teams units in 2024. Houston previously coached special teams at the collegiate level with Iowa State.

Per the report, Houston will be an analyst for the Gators and will not count as one of their 10 on-field assistant coaches. The report also says that current special teams analyst Chris Couch will remain on staff and work alongside Houston next season.

Houston has been on staff with the Patriots since 2020. Prior to that stint in the NFL, he spent 4 seasons in Ames with the Cyclones. He coached all-Big 12 kickers during the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

Houston is a former college kicker himself as he played at at USC. He was the Trojans’ primary kicker in 2010 as he made all 43 of his extra point tries and went 10-of-16 on field goal attempts.

Florida did have a solid special teams unit in 2023, but there’s always more room for improvement. The Gators ranked No. 9 nationally in special teams efficiency, per SP+’s final rankings.

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