One year, six months and eight days after he officially joined the Florida football staff, Joker Phillips is out as the Gators’ wide receivers coach after resigning Wednesday, according to the school’s website.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity that the University of Florida and Will Muschamp provided to me and my family, but at this time I have decided to step down from my position on the UF coaching staff for personal reasons,’’ Phillips said in a statement released by UF.
Muschamp announced that graduate assistant Chris Leak, who quarterbacked the Gators to a national championship in 2006, will replace Phillips.
Leak joined the offensive coaching staff in May 2013 after a few stints in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League following his graduation from Florida in 2006.
Phillips, who coached Kentucky to a 13-24 record from 2010 to 2012, joined the Gators to help turn around a struggling receiving corps that suffered through four different wide receivers coaches from 2009 to 2012.
With the constant turnover at the position, Phillips vowed to be a long-term solution when he was initially hired.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to the long-term vision that (coach Will Muschamp) has for this program,” Phillips said after his hiring on Dec. 3, 2012.
However, Phillips' sudden departure means Leak will inherit a receiving group led by Quinton Dunbar just 80 days before Florida opens its season against Idaho on Aug. 30.
After Kurt Roper and Mike Summers took over as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, respectively, Leak becomes the Gators’ third newest offensive coach this offseason.
“Chris is a bright young coach,” Muschamp said. “He is one of the all-time Gator greats and being at Florida is very important to him. He has been working with coach Roper and our offensive staff and is very familiar with our players and new system.”
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Former Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips watches the Gators warm up before Florida’s 24-7 victorty against Kentucky on Sept. 28 in Lexington, Ky. Phillips resigned Wednesday after just one year as UF’s wide receivers coach.
