Former Florida QB Austin Appleby is getting into coaching.

Appleby tweeted a professional headshot captioned “Coach Appleby.” He is listed as a quality control assistant (support staff position) on the Central Michigan website. CMU is coached by former Florida head coach Jim McElwain (2015-17). Appleby transferred from Purdue to Florida in 2016 to play for McElwain.

Appleby became the first graduate transfer to ever start at quarterback for Florida when the Gators faced Tennessee (Sept. 24, 2016). Appearing in nine games, including seven starts, Appleby was 127-for-209 passing, throwing for 1,447 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Appleby was briefly a member of the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent during the 2017 offseason. Appleby was the backup quarterback on the Orlando Apollos, the Steve Spurrier-coached AAF team.

CMU has quite a few Florida connections:

  • Defensive coordinator Robb Akey – former UF staffer under McElwain; promoted to defensive line coach by interim head coach Randy Shannon in 2017
  • Linebackers coach Mark Debastiani – former UF staffer; linebackers coach for Outback Bowl following the departure of Geoff Collins
  • Offensive coordinator Charlie Frye – consultant at Florida during McElwain tenure
  • Wide receivers coach, assistant head coach Kevin Barbay – director of player development at Florida under McElwain
  • Defensive line coach Justin Hinds – former UF graduate assistant
  • CB Brian Edwards – 2017 Florida signee who has transferred to Central Michigan

[H/T Swamp247]