The Florida Gators defeated the Florida State Seminoles 40-21 in the Sunshine Showdown this season. Late Friday evening, they knocked off the Seminoles again in the coaching hunt.
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, the Gators have hired UCF defensive backs coach Brandon Harris. The 35-year-old was being courted by Florida State, but new head coach Jon Sumrall managed to steal him away.
Harris has spent the bulk of his career, both playing and coaching, in the Sunshine state. Once he coaches his first game in Gainesville, he’ll have played or coached for every FBS school in the state besides South Florida:
- Player – Miami (2008-10)
- Coach – FIU (2019 & 2021)
- Coach – Florida State (2020)
- Coach – Florida Atlantic (2022-24)
- Coach – UCF (2025)
- Coach – Florida (2026)
Harris was also a member of the Miami Dolphins during training camp in 2016. Florida fans are happy to have him on the coaching staff, but are even more excited about his addition knowing Sumrall essentially poached him from the Seminoles.
With Harris and Sumrall in tow, the Gators are ready to make their climb back toward the top of the SEC. The duo will make their Florida coaching debuts on Sept. 5 versus Florida Atlantic.
