Florida announced Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Thursday morning after firing Brent Pease on Dec. 1.
“This was the right situation for me and my family at the right time,” Roper said on a media teleconference. “It's obviously a great university that has a great tradition, and I look forward to trying to add to that.”
ESPN and other media outlets reported Roper would be hired on Tuesday, and the school announced the official decision Thursday. Roper will make $600,000 per year, according to the Gainesville Sun.
"I'm excited to have Coach Roper join our staff," coach Will Muschamp said in a press release. "He has a diverse, up-tempo background on offense and does a good job of adapting to what the players do best.”
Roper is currently the Blue Devils' offensive coordinator under head coach David Cutcliffe, and Roper will stay at his position to coach the No. 24 Duke in the Chik-fil-A Bowl against No. 21 Texas A&M in Atlanta on Dec. 31.
Under Roper, Duke — a perennial cellar-dweller — finished 10-3 and clinched its second straight bowl berth for the first time in school history. The Blue Devils finished the season ranked 69th in total offense.
The Gators hope Roper can at least get them back to that standard. Florida finished 2013 with a 4-8 record — its worst season since 1979. UF also missed out on a bowl bid for the first time since 1990. Under Pease, Florida’s offense finished 115th in the nation.
“Coach Muschamp is really excited about the future there,” Roper said. “He's excited about the talent level that he has there. I think he's excited about the opportunities that Florida has to compete for championships, and so that obviously is something that I'm very interested in doing.”
Said Cutcliffe: “I’m very pleased with what he’s accomplished here as the offensive coordinator, but this is an opportunity for him somewhat to be out on his own, and I think he’s looking forward to that.”
Roper previously coached in the Southeastern Conference as the Tennessee running backs coach from 2006 to 2007.
"You know, obviously, the expectations are high, and they should be,” Roper said. ”They've won a lot of games at Florida and won a lot of championships at Florida, and so obviously the expectations are going to be high, you know, anywhere in the SEC. “
He also spent a season coaching Kentucky’s quarterbacks, where he worked with current Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips.
“Joker and I get along great,” Roper said, “He’s a heck of a football coach first, but we’re really good friends ... He’s a good man, a great recruiter. I think he’s a guy I’ll enjoy being around every day. I’m looking forward to getting back with him.”
The Gators, which previously ran a run-based, pro-style offense, plan to switch to a spread offense under Roper. Roper said he was not familiar with Florida’s offense, which averaged a meager 18.8 points per game in 2013, but he looks to evaluate the personnel he will have available to him.
"I think the biggest thing is you got to find out the strengths of your quarterback and the strengths of your offensive line,” Roper said. “Once you find those strengths then you can start putting together what you're going to start hanging your hat on offensively.
“Then the other five players you have to find out who can make something happen with the football. If it's running backs, if it's tight end or if it's wide receivers then you try to find the way to get those guys the football and you create personnel or formations based on that.”
Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper (middle) participates in the ceremony for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division 1A Assistant Football Coaches, on Dec. 10 in Little Rock, Ark. Florida announced Roper as its new offensive coordinator on Dec. 26.
