GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Doug Nussmeier replaced Jim McElwain as offensive coordinator at Fresno State and again at Alabama.
This time, they’re working together.
McElwain hired Nussmeier as Florida’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Wednesday, nearly three weeks after McElwain took over in Gainesville.
“Doug and I have worked together on the same staff and I’ve known him for years,” McElwain said in a statement. “We are like thinkers in that he will adapt to the players we have in the program and develop them as we continue to evolve.”
McElwain hired former Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins to the same position last week. Nussmeier’s announcement will draw significantly more interest at Florida, where fans have been starved for offense since Tim Tebow left school after the 2009 season.
The Gators ranked 82nd in the nation in total offense in 2010 and have been mostly inept in the four seasons since, ranking 105th (2011), 103rd (2012), 113th (2013) and 91st (currently).
It’s up to McElwain and Nussmeier to turn things around.
Nussmeier worked with McElwain a decade ago at Michigan State. He later followed McElwain twice — at Fresno State in 2008 and at Alabama in 2012. Nussmeier was coach Nick Saban’s play-caller in 2012 and 2013, helping the Crimson Tide win a national title.
During Nussmeier’s two seasons at Alabama, the Tide was one of the most balanced and efficient offenses in the country. Alabama set school records for rushing (37) and passing (31) touchdowns, total points scored (542) and total offense during the 2012 national championship season. The Crimson Tide also led the nation in pass efficiency (174.3 rating).
Nussmeier went to Michigan in 2014, but the Wolverines finished 5-7 and coach Brady Hoke got fired. The Wolverines ranked 111th in the nation in total offense.
The 44-year-old Nussmeier, an Oswego, Oregon, native, was a Division I-AA quarterback at Idaho. He is still one of only five quarterbacks in NCAA history to throw for at least 10,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards.
Nussmeier played professionally for the New Orleans Saints.
He coached quarterbacks in the CFL, NFL and in college, including at Michigan State while McElwain was receivers coach and assistant head coach to John L. Smith.
“I’m excited to reunite with Coach Mac. We obviously have a long history and share similar philosophies,” Nussmeier said. “I’m honored to join the Gator nation and work for one of the most storied programs in all of college football.”
After his stint at Michigan State, Nussmeier coached two seasons (2006-07) with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. He then served as offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Washington (2009-11) before Saban hired him at Alabama.
Nussmeier has a track record of producing solid quarterback play, mentoring Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Washington’s Jake Locker and Keith Price, Michigan State’s Drew Stanton and Jeff Smoker and the St. Louis Rams’ Marc Bulger. In 12 seasons coaching college quarterbacks, Nussmeier has tutored four 3,000-yard passers. He also helped Bulger have the best year of his NFL career in 2006, when he threw for 4,301 yards and 24 touchdowns.
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