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Florida’s Randy Shannon to call defensive plays for bowl

Arkansas' Bret Bielema, right, chats with Florida's Randy Shannon after the conclusion of their teams NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Fayetteville, Ark. (Samantha Baker / Associated Press)
Associated Press

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 20 Florida will have Randy Shannon call defensive plays for the Outback Bowl.

Coach Jim McElwain made the announcement Monday, saying Shannon will fill in for recently departed defensive coordinator Geoff Collins against 21st-ranked Iowa. Temple hired Collins as its head coach last week.

Although Shannon has the titles of associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator, Collins called the plays this season. Shannon worked primarily as linebackers coach.

Shannon served as Miami’s defensive coordinator (2001-06) before becoming the Hurricanes’ head coach in 2007. McElwain promoted quality control assistant Mark DeBastiani to linebackers coach.

McElwain says he will wait until January to announce Collins’ successor for the 2017 season.

McElwain says “we’re not going to make any full-time decisions on that until after the bowl games out of respect for coaches and people who are coaching in other programs and that kind of thing. I just don’t think it’s right this time of year.”