GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Ron Zook, the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator who held the same position with Florida in 1992-93, was named head football coach at Florida Wednesday, succeeding Steve Spurrier, the winningest coach in school history.
Athletic Director Jeremy Foley turned to Zook after he was spurned by Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, another former Gators defensive coordinator who had the job during their national championship season of 1996.
Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who like Stoops and Zook is a good friend of Foley, also turned down the job.
Still, it took Florida just four days to find a successor for Spurrier, who resigned Friday to pursue a job in the NFL after achieving great success during his 12-year run in Gainesville. In addition to winning a national title, the Gators won six Southeastern Conference titles while recording nine 10-win seasons under Spurrier.
Before the 1966 Heisman Trophy winner returned to his alma mater, Florida had never won an SEC crown. The Gators capped a 10-2 season last week with a 56-23 rout of Maryland in the Orange Bowl.
Zook, 47, spent the last six seasons as an NFL assistant, the past two with the Saints. He served as Florida's defensive coordinator for two seasons before Spurrier demoted him to special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 1994. Zook reclaimed the defensive coordinator's post but left for the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 1996 season.
Although Zook has made his reputation as a defensive coach, it is expected that he will continue the brand of wide-open offense made famous by Spurrier.
At Florida, Zook worked with several assistants still on the Florida staff, including linebackers coach Jim Collins, wide receivers coach Dwayne Dixon, offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens and running backs coach Lawson Holland.
By hiring a coach quickly, Foley likely was trying to persuade several top underclassmen to remain in Gainesville.
Quarterback Rex Grossman, who was benched for the start of the Orange Bowl, had planned on returning, but was reconsidering as of Monday.
Wide receivers Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell and Taylor Jacobs and cornerback Lito Sheppard are other Gator underclassmen who have yet to announce their intentions. Underclassmen have until Friday to apply for the NFL draft.
After three seasons on Bill Cowher's staff, Zook, a former defensive back at Miami of Ohio, spent one year with the Kansas City Chiefs before joining Jim Haslett in New Orleans.
It is the second time in as many years that Haslett has lost a defensive coordinator to the college ranks. John Bunting was hired by North Carolina last season.
