Florida targets Pease as offensive coordinator

By Adam Silverstein
January 6, 2012

Boise State Broncos offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brent Pease was in Gainesville, FL on Friday meeting with Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp and University of Florida administration about the vacant position on the coaching staff.

Pease, who ESPN reported Thursday afternoon is also being pursued by the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban, was expected by Florida officials to accept the job Friday but instead informed them that he had planned to meet with Saban on Tuesday following the BCS title game.

Sources told OGGOA Thursday evening that all indications pointed to Pease being named the Gators’ next offensive coordinator on Friday. He and his wife flew into Orlando, FL Friday afternoon and were driven up to Gainesville to accept the job offer, but his decision to first speak with Saban next week derailed that plan.

The Gainesville Sun notes that “Muschamp may have the advantage because he moved on Pease first, shortly after Charlie Weis left to take the Kansas job on Dec. 9. Saban lost his offensive coordinator, Jim McElwain, five days later to Colorado State.”

A member of Boise State’s staff since 2006, Pease has served as the team’s wide receivers coach (2006-10), assistant head coach (2007-10) and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2011). Prior to his stint with Boise State, he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Baylor (2003-05), Kentucky (2001-02), Northern Arizona (1999-2000) and Montana (1996-98).

Pease was hired to be offensive coordinator at Indiana for the 2011 season but wound up heading back to the Broncos two weeks later when head coach Chris Petersen offered him a promotion after a vacancy was created when Bryan Harsin left for Texas.

Pease and Muschamp crossed paths in 2001 and 2002 when the former was with Kentucky and the latter with LSU. Muschamp’s team was victorious in both games but just barely, beating UK 29-25 in 2001 and 33-30 in 2002. The second victory is known as the “Bluegrass Miracle” in which LSU, the road team, tossed a 74-yard game-winning touchdown with no time remaining on the clock.

A former starting quarterback at Montana (1985-86), Pease spent four years toiling around the NFL but only officially made the Houston Oilers’ roster (1987-88). He also played for two teams in the World League of American Football (1991-92) as well as for the Arena Football League’s Cincinnati Rockers (1993).

It is plausible that Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley makes Pease a take-it-or-leave-it offer on Friday, not wanting the Gators’ interest in the coach to be used as leverage for a deal with the Crimson Tide.

26 Comments

  1. CeeThree says:

    interesting, so we’re in a wait and see game? I don’t think it’d look good, after all the hysteria earlier, if we go out and lose him.

  2. Sam says:

    Hope it is a take it or leave it deal. No need to draw things out and possibly have egg on our faces if Satan buys his soul.

  3. Mr2Bits says:

    He needs to crap or get off the pot. Tuesday is years away in regards to recruiting and bring staff stability!

  4. g8ter27 says:

    Yes take take it or leave it today. If he says no then lets stick with White and move on and finish recruiting strong. So many coaching vacancies out there both in the NFL and college that this may be a time to let White have a shot at running the show and see what he can do. Easier to score points in the WAC/Mountain West than it is in the Big Ten/12 like White had to do. But not much. ha.

  5. Travis says:

    I like it, coming from an obviously well coached team in Boise State he’d be a great hire. Hopefully Saban doesn’t steal him, but him being interested validates Pease’s success.

  6. Daniel M. says:

    Tell Pease to take it or leave it. Remind him that if he go to Bama he will be working for the meanest little sawed off bastard on earth. The stories that came out from the Dolphins beat guys after Saban left are legendary. That guy is a major douche.

  7. gator says:

    What the hell,this guy tells the gators to wait?Buckoff Bronco

  8. Marc Mac says:

    How does one start a petition to stop your excessive use of “former” and “latter”….

  9. Gatorgrad79 says:

    What are we? The ugly girl waiting to see if someone that can’t get another date will take her to the dance?! Pease needs to take the job or take a hike. If he will play one against the other, then he will leave as soon as he gets a “better” offer…

  10. Crash says:

    Will needs to recognize that bringing in an outsider — a perception hire — will not get the job done. We saw that with Charlie. Clearly, the kids respond to White and want to play for him. Do what’s right: promote Coach White!

    • g8ter27 says:

      I agree, if he doesn’t take it Saturday then let him take his chances with Bama and lets promote White who Diggs and others clearly like anyway. Offer Bell an assistant position if he wants it and lets recruit.

      • Tractorr says:

        Also White seems like a solid coach and we don’t want him to feel like he was passed over for a mercenary.

        • Crash says:

          White is a great coach — and, probably should be a head coach in D1. Plus, he has a good relationship with Muschamp and will help build a culture of success. Another outsider (read:Charlie) will be another organ transplant rejection. Stay with home-known talent. The kids want him. Will wants him — but has to demonstrate the courage to Alums that White is the right decision. ANother OC failure won’t settle too well with the Alums. That is for sure.

  11. Jlbob says:

    Guys third job this off season… Not a long term hire that’s for sure

  12. Gator Boys says:

    Don’t want him

  13. alohakid says:

    Lynn Amedee might be available…..

    • Gatorgrad79 says:

      “”Amedee left Vanderbilt after the 1984 season, as he was hired as offensive coordinator by new Texas A&M head coach Jackie Sherrill. In 1988 he became offensive coordinator under head coach Galen Hall at the University of Florida,[1] where he drew criticism for his strategy to use sophomore running back Emmitt Smith as a “decoy”. 1988 was Smith’s only season with less than 1,000 yards rushing.”” HAHA, that’s what we need – we don’t know where are running backs are already…

  14. John S says:

    Doesn’t bode well that he’s waiting, but not really thrilled with him anyway. With Muschamp taking the wait and see multiple interview approach, we can’t be that upset that this guy wants to talk to someone else.

    I can’t believe Muschamp didn’t have more offensive friends to draw from. Co offensive coordinators White and Bell, it’s the smarter move. We’ll see actual player development and production. Muschamp put your ego to the side on this, you blew this last time smarten up.

  15. Gatorgrad79 says:

    Kind of surprised that Foley is sitting by and allowing this nobody from Boise to play us against saban. Man up Jeremy and IF he is the one you want, tell him it is take it or leave it. Foley is the one who really has a lot to lose – he let urban liar walk all over us, then he was in charge of the weiss debacle, now he can’t afford another mistake…AD still trumps head football coach unless muschamp has an ironclad full control clause regarding hiring in his contract (I doubt it).

  16. MAR says:

    Kerwin! He would be dedicated for a long time. Bleeds orange and Blue. Great coach in the making IMO. Pease?!? Pllllease!

  17. jay d says:

    we dont play the “Waiting game” at Florida……take that shite 2 bama….big name hires are always fun…..but I think White would be the best choice for FLA….he wouldn`t leave at the drop of a hat and he would put everything he had into his effort of coaching!!!! aka I know this guy would give 110% every hour of every day for every year he is employed by Florida

  18. aziatic41 says:

    Brian White did an excellent job with the offense in the bowl game but that was just one game. I like Brian White but when coaching at a powerhouse school like UF, you need the primadomas! And that means from the players to the coaches… From the coaches to the players, you need to stockpile your program with as much talent as possible. This Pease guy from Boise St has been a part of a very solid offensive system at Boise St. And Boise St has had offensive success against some powerhouse programs, including UGA and Va Tech this past season, and had success with lesser talent. So this Pease guy knows what he is doing. I’m with Muschamp on this guy. He would be an excellent coordinator for us. And unlike Weis, his goal will not be to use us as a one year exposure plan to get a headcoaching job elsewhere.. Hope we get Pease, if not I will support Brian White or whoever else that becomes the coordinator 100 percent

    • Gatorgrad79 says:

      How can you possible say “”he won’t use us for one year…””. The fact he is even interviewing with bama says he will have one eye toward the percieved “next best thing”. What makes you think if we have a 8and 4 or even 9-3 season, and bama or lsu finishes 1 or 2 with a shot at bcs championship, that he wouldn’t jump if asked. He has no loyalty to anyone, or wouldn’t be taking multiple interviews….

  19. Kyle says:

    We were interviewing other candidates so should we say he can’t interview elsewhere as well?? Cmon mane!! It’s not all about schemes or Weis would have put 40 a game up- Boise EXECUTES better than anyone else and this guy knows that recipe…

  20. aziatic41 says:

    @Kyle, right on brother and thanks. @Gatorgrad79, Pease is doing the exact same thing you would do if you were in his shoes. At the end of the day he is a man, and making the best decision for him. If you were offered a job and you had two attractive offers, you would interview for them both also. Lets be realistic with what we are saying. At the end of the day this is still a business and a JOB selection for Peace.

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