Big names already being removed from Florida coaching search

Will Muschamp's end at Florida had long been speculated with more than a few big-name coaches being mentioned as possible replacements in recent weeks. Well, Monday's press conference announcing Muschamp's dismissal hadn't even finished before some of those big names were already crossed off the list.

There were some Florida fans with dreams of Steve Spurrier making a triumphant return to Gainesville, but Spurrier put those hopes to bed Monday, saying, 'I've already had my run at Florida. They need to hire a coach that hopefully will be there for 10 years.'

Then there was Bob Stoops, who has been mentioned as a possibility at Florida in previous coaching searches. Stoops once again made it clear Monday that he's not interested in the Florida job, or any other gig that isn't Oklahoma.

'All I want to be is a candidate at Oklahoma,' said Stoops when asked about the Florida job. 'I'm not a candidate anywhere else. I'm finished with that question.'

While those two pulled themselves, ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy tweeted that Arizona's Rich Rodriguez and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, two other names mentioned frequently, will not be among the coaches Florida considers to replace Muschamp.

So now four big names are removed from the list.

Who will Florida end up hiring? Nobody knows at this point, though athletic director Jeremy Foley did say Monday that the search will begin immediately, but you shouldn't expect an announcement anytime soon.

Foley also said that the search won't 'disrupt people's seasons,' so if the Gators are planning on looking at coaches currently employed anywhere else, it'll be at least Dec. 7 before the search starts in force.

Of course, that won't stop the rumors from swirling between now and then.

Steve Spurrier won't be returning to Florida to replace Will Muschamp. (USATSI)

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