Doc Holliday, coach of unbeaten Marshall, has plenty of Florida ties

A new but familiar name has appeared to join the Florida coaching search. Marshall head coach Doc Holliday, a former Florida assistant, is “very much a candidate” to replace Will Muschamp in Gainesville, FootballScoop is reporting.

Holliday was not among the 10 names given odds by Vegas Monday (led by favorite Mike Gundy), but his candidacy makes sense. He was hired as Florida’s associate head coach, safeties coach and recruiting coordinator in 2005 after success on the staffs of West Virginia (his alma mater) and NC State. While with the Mountaineers, he was their lead recruiter in Florida, and the Gators will be hard-pressed to find a coach who has recruited the state longer than Holliday. During his time in Gainesville, he was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation by Rivals (a distinction he ended up earning multiple times in his time as an assistant), and helped develop All-American safety Reggie Nelson.

After a second two-year stint at West Virginia, Holliday was hired as the head coach of Marshall prior to the 2010 season. After mediocre returns in his first three seasons, the Thundering Herd put together a 10-win season in 2013, blowing out Maryland in the Military Bowl. This year, Marshall is one of two undefeated teams in the nation, along with Florida State.

Even at Marshall, Holliday has managed to recruit Florida well. A staggering 29 players on his roster hail from the Sunshine State, including star quarterback Rakeem Cato and wide receiver Tommy Shuler. There may be other higher-profile candidates Florida could pursue, but Holliday appears to bring a lot to the table.