The University of Florida football program is likely to hire former San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly this week.
Florida has already begun the “vetting process” regarding Kelly. “Vetting” is basically performing a background check on someone before hiring them. Kelly’s track record is very much out there, so at this point it looks like nothing more than dotting I’s and crossing T’s.
A new SEC rule states that commissioner Greg Sankey needs to sign off on a member school hiring a coach with a sketchy record (Oregon was hit with a show-cause penalty under Kelly’s watch). But considering the SEC houses coaches like John Calipari and Bruce Pearl – Kelly’s track record should not halt the hiring process by Florida.
In Kelly’s four years at Oregon, the Ducks went – in order – 10-3 (2009), 12-1 (2010), 12-2 (2011) and 12-1 (2012). Kelly actually was only a head coach in the college ranks at Oregon, as he served as the offensive coordinator for the Ducks from 2007-08. He’s well known for his coaching stint at New Hampshire prior to that, but he only served in an offensive coordinator and assistant coach role there from 1994-2006.
It’s still a big question as to whether Kelly can handle big personalities like the ones he dealt with in the NFL and the ones he will surely deal with at Florida if he indeed lands the job.
Confirmed that UF is looking at Chip Kelly as next head coach. Decision could be as soon as this week. Also heard that Florida was becoming very frustrated with Jimmy Sexton, who represents many other potential candidates. Chip is represented by David Dunn.
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) November 13, 2017
