Urban Meyer Completes Coaching Staff with George Edwards as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator

Strategic Insights -

Urban Meyer has finally completed his coaching staff at the University of Florida with the hiring of George Edwards as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Edwards, a veteran coach with 12 seasons of experience in the National Football League, will join forces with safeties coach Chuck Heater, who was promoted to co-defensive coordinator. This move comes after the departure of Charlie Strong, who left to become the head coach at Louisville.

Key Takeaways:

  • George Edwards, a 30-year coaching veteran, brings 12 seasons of experience in the National Football League to the University of Florida.
  • Edwards spent the past five seasons as the linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins and previously coached in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys.
  • Edwards' collegiate coaching experience includes stints at Duke, Appalachian State, Georgia, and Florida, where he worked under former Gators coach Steve Spurrier.
  • While at Georgia, Edwards coached alongside players Richard Seymour and Marcus Stroud, who both became first-round NFL Draft picks.
  • Chuck Heater, the new co-defensive coordinator, is one of only two remaining assistant coaches from Meyer's inaugural UF staff in 2005.
  • Edwards has worked with some of the most renowned coaches in the country, including Steve Spurrier, and has a proven track record of developing defensive talent.
  • The hiring of Edwards completes the University of Florida coaching staff, following the recent additions of D.J. Durkin as a defensive assistant and Stan Drayton as the running backs coach.

Statistics:

  • 12 seasons of NFL experience for George Edwards, including 5 seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
  • 5 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (1998-2001) as a linebackers coach.
  • 2 seasons (2002-2003) coaching linebackers with the Washington Redskins.
  • 1 season (2004) as a linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns.
  • 1 season (2003) as defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins.
  • 3 seasons (1997) coaching the defensive line at the University of Georgia.

Sources:

  • "Urban Meyer hires George Edwards as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator," by Michael DiRocco, The Florida Times-Union, [no date]