Florida Gators hire Keary Colbert to football staff
Billy Napier has tabbed former USC assistant Keary Colbert to be the new Florida Gators receivers coach.
Colbert spent the last six seasons at his alma mater, Southern Cal, in roles of offensive analyst (2016-17), tight ends coach (2018), and wide receivers coach (2019-21).
Napier and Colbert previously worked together from 2014-15 at Alabama. Colbert served as an offensive analyst for the Tide when they went a combined 26-3 and won the National Championship in 2015.
The Gators’ latest hire has extensive experience both as a player and a coach. A four-year starter at wide receiver at USC, he broke the program all-time receptions record (207) while gaining 2,964 receiving yards and 19 touchdown passes in his career. Colbert was a team captain his senior year when the Trojans captured the 2003 National Championship and was a two-time All Pac-10 second-team selection (2002-03).
Colbert was drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers and spent four seasons (2004-07) in Carolina, where he set rookie season records for receptions (47), receiving yards (754) and receiving touchdowns (5). He also spent time with the Denver Broncos (2008), Seattle Seahawks (2008), Detroit Lions (2008-09) and Kansas City Chiefs (2011).
His coaching career began in 2010 as an assistant tight ends coach at USC. After returning to the NFL for a year with the Chiefs, he got back into coaching at Georgia State, where he served as the assistant wide receivers coach. Colbert moved on to Alabama, where his path intersected with Napier.
Colbert is the sixth coach added to Napier’s staff
Colbert is the sixth assistant coach added to Napier’s initial staff at Florida. He joins co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Patrick Toney, cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond, running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton and strength coach Mark Hocke.
Stay tuned to Gators Online as we continue to update this breaking news story.
