Florida Gators football hires 27-year coaching veteran as quality control assistant

Currently in the process of replacing (at least) five internal staff members (off-field assistants) that were hired away as on-field assistant coaches across the nation, Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain announced his first hire to fill one of those roles.

Bret Ingalls, a 27-year coaching veteran who has spent the last seven seasons as a running backs (2009-12) and offensive line (2013-15) coach with the New Orleans Saints, will fill one of those vacancies.

Ingalls, 55, is originally from Snohomish, Washington, and played college ball at Wichita State before coaching in college for 20 years prior to his NFL stint. He served as offensive coordinator at San Diego State (1993), Louisville (1995-96), Northern Iowa (1997-99) and Idaho (2000-03). Ingalls also coached at many of the same stops and McElwain mentor John L. Smith, though oddly never at the same time.

It was reported earlier in the week that Steve Spurrier Jr., who served as South Carolina’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator under his father Steve Spurrier but was not retained by former Florida head coach Will Muschamp, is also under consideration for a quality control role.

Ingalls is McElwain’s second announced hire this offseason after the coach brought in defensive backs coach Torrian Gray to replace the ousted Kirk Callahan.