Report: Florida to hire Tim Skipper as RB coach

By Adam Silverstein
January 1, 2015

New Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain, according to John Middlekauff of 957 The Game, will reportedly make his first hire from his old Colorado State Rams staff with assistant coach Tim Skipper set to join him in Gainesville, Florida.

McElwain’s assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Colorado State, Skipper will reportedly join Florida as running backs coach. A versatile veteran coach who will be in the profession for his 15th season in 2015, Skipper has coached defensive backs, running backs (Fresno State, 2006-08) and linebackers; he’s also coordinated defenses at Western New Mexico (2002) and Sacramento State (2004-05).

Skipper is best known for coaching Ryan Mathews at Fresno State.


As noted by NFL.com’s Bryan Fischer, Skipper’s father (Jim Skipper, Carolina) and brother (Kelly Skipper, Oakland) are both currently running backs coaches in the NFL. Jim Skipper has coached running backs since 1979, coaching in the NFL from 1986-Present (except 2001), while Kelly Skipper has coached running backs since 1997 but has been in the NFL ranks since 2002.

Tim Skipper would be the fourth assistant hired by McElwain, following defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and still-unannounced linebackers coach Randy Shannon.

Hiring Skipper would not necessarily mean that current Gators running backs coach Brian White, the longest-tenured member of Florida’s coaching staff, would be leaving the program. White moved into his current role under Will Muschamp (2011-13) but was initially hired by Urban Meyer in 2009 to coach Florida’s tight ends.

5 Comments

  1. Just Want A Change says:

    Adam, from what you know, is this a good hire?

    Also, is it too early to tell what players may transfer due to all of this change?

  2. Malikg says:

    Looking more closely, Tim Skipper was one of Coach Mac’s first hires at CSU and the first non-local one. Also, when Mac was OC at Fresno State in 2007, Skipper was his RBs coach.

    Also, when Billy Napier left CSU after one year of being Assistant Head Coach to go to Bama, Skipper was immediately named the Assistant Head Coach in his stead. To me, that shows he’s a guy that Mac really trusts.

    So far, for his offensive staff, if this hire comes to pass, outside of reportedly retaining Mike Summers as OL coach (who has 34 years of coaching experience), Mac has hired Nussmeier, who he’s coached with and known for 11 years (and has 14 years of experience), and Skipper, who he’s coached with and known for 7 years (and who also has 14 years of experience).

    Solid, experienced, vetted hires so far. Seems smart.

  3. Malikg says:

    Just as importantly for familiarity and trust, Skipper was RBs coach under Nussmeier when he was OC at Fresno State in 2008.

  4. 305Gator says:

    At the very least all these offensive coaches wil be on the same page and that should reflect onto the players as well. No more drama and conflict between the HC and the coordinatiors or position coaches like we have had in the past few years. It’s all good so far.

    • Timmy T says:

      Agreed. I’m loving everything I’m seeing right now. Hope is a good thing, and I have high hopes right now. Go Gators!!!!

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