Stanford assistant D.J. Durkin hired by Florida

By Adam Silverstein
January 4, 2010

MyValleySports.com is reporting that Stanford Cardinal defensive ends and special teams coach D.J. Durkin has been hired to coach linebackers and special teams for the Florida Gators. Durkin, who has coached at Stanford for the last three seasons, previously worked as linebackers and special teams coach with the Bowling Green Falcons from 2005-06.

A four-year starter for Bowling Green from 1997-2000, Durkin served as a graduate assistant and defensive specialist on the Falcons coaching staff while he pursued a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision. Florida head coach Urban Meyer, who led Bowling Green from 2001-2002, hired Durkin as one of his GAs during his tenure. After Meyer left, Durkin spent two years with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish where he was a GA for the entire defensive staff but worked closely with defensive ends.

An interesting twist to this story is that Meyer has always coached the Gators’ special teams unit, so hiring Durkin for the job may very well indicate that he is choosing to lessen some duties or drop them all-together. OGGOA will have more on this story as additional information is made available.

ESPN spent a day with Durkin during Stanford football practice:

6 Comments

  1. ZURBO says:

    This guy rocks

  2. That’s what I thought when I saw the video and read up on him, too.

  3. Aligator says:

    Good hire! So now we need a tough nut DB coach to round out the team on D.

  4. SC Gator says:

    Seems like a good pick

  5. Drew 4 Orange and Blue says:

    I like this hire a lot….it’s also hope Meyer could make this thing work!!!

  6. cincyfan says:

    DJ is a fantastic person on and off the field!!! We are family friends (in fact, my twins were the flower girl and ring bearer in his wedding) and he is the real thing! We are proud to be new Gator fans since his hiring earlier this year!!

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