Florida assistants getting consideration elsewhere

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and assistant head coach Dan McCarney have had discussions with other schools about their head coaching vacancies, coach Urban Meyer said Sunday.

Meyer said Mullen spoke with Mississippi State about filling the spot left open when Sylvester Croom resigned earlier this month. Meyer also said McCarney interviewed with New Mexico on Sunday. Rocky Long stepped down Nov. 17 at New Mexico after 11 seasons.

Mullen was quarterbacks coach at Utah and has called plays for Florida the last four seasons. The top-ranked Gators set a school record for points this season and will play Oklahoma on Jan. 8 in the BCS national title game. Florida won the title two years ago.

McCarney, who spent 12 years as head coach at Iowa State, helped turn Florida’s defensive line into one of the most formidable in the SEC this season.

McCarney began his career as offensive line coach at Iowa (1977-78) and became the team’s defensive line coach (1979-89). He also served as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator (1990-94) before taking the head job at Iowa State. He was fired after the 2006 season, then spent the 2007 season as defensive line coach at South Florida.