Florida paying nearly $3M to assistant coaches

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida is spending more on assistants than it is on first-year head coach Will Muschamp.

The Gators have committed $2.93 million to Muschamp's nine-man coaching staff in 2011, according to contracts released Friday.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis signed a three-year deal worth $2.495 million. He will earn $765,000 in 2011, then $865,000 the next two years. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn signed a two-year deal worth $1 million. He will get $490,000 in 2011, then $510,000 the following year.

Muschamp agreed to a five-year deal worth $13.5 million, or $2.7 million annually. He assembled a staff with lots of NFL experience. He also paid them accordingly.

The staff will make about $300,000 more than last year's assistants.

Nonetheless, the Gators are actually saving money since former coach Urban Meyer was making $4 million annually.

Aside from Muschamp's two coordinators, assistant salaries range from $190,000 to $290,000, based on experience.

Tight ends coach Derek Lewis, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill all signed one-year deals. Lewis will earn $190,000. Robinson and Hill will make $230,000 each.

Defensive line coach Bryant Young signed a two-year deal worth $230,000 annually. Offensive line coach Frank Verducci signed a two-year deal worth $290,000 annually.

Linebacker coach/special teams coordinator D.J. Durkin and running backs coach Brian White, both retained from Meyer's staff, are making $265,000 and $240,000, respectively. Durkin received a $25,000 raise. Durkin and White are in the final year of two-year contracts signed under Meyer.

Muschamp grew up in Gainesville, played at Georgia and coached at Auburn, LSU and with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. He jumped at a chance to return to Florida and the Southeastern Conference, even though it meant leaving his head coach-in-waiting spot at Texas.

A defensive guru whose units were among the best in the nation during his time at LSU and Auburn, Muschamp surrounded himself with experienced assistants, some guys with NFL ties and others with working knowledge about Florida's traditions and ways.

The staff will get its first on-field work during spring practice, which begins March 16.