Randy Shannon promoted to Florida defensive coordinator

Florida has promoted Randy Shannon to full-time defensive coordinator, the program announced in a Friday release.

The release includes quotes from head coach Jim McElwain and Shannon.

McElwain:

"Coach Shannon has been a big part of our success over the last two years. It's been really cool to watch him handle his business. He really connects with our players and they have a lot of respect for him. More than being a great coach, he is a great mentor and teacher to these young men and that is one of our greatest measuring sticks as coaches."

Shannon:

"I appreciate the opportunity Coach Mac has given me to be the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. We will continue to work together as we have the past two years to put together a plan so our players are in a position to be successful in football and in life."

The release also makes mention of Shannon “previously” coaching Florida’s linebackers. He switched to coaching Florida’s safeties while serving as the Gators’ interim defensive coordinator leading up to and in the Outback Bowl, with quality control coach Mark DeBastiani handling linebackers, but it is unclear whether Shannon will keep his other titles — linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator, and associate head coach — or duties as defensive coordinator.

The move comes as little surprise, especially after Shannon’s defense set bowl and school records by holding Iowa to just three points in Tampa. Florida hired Shannon in 2015 as a co-coordinator to Geoff Collins, with Collins calling the Gators’ defensive plays, and with Collins leaving for Temple in early December, Shannon was the most logical candidate to succeed him on McElwain’s staff.