BREAKING: Gators promote Russ Callaway to tight ends coach
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators are promoting Russ Callaway to tight ends coach, sources told Gators Online. Callaway joined the Gators in 2022 after spending the 2021 season with the New York Giants, serving as an offensive assistant, and the 2020 season as a senior offensive assistant and analyst at LSU.
Billy Napier and the Florida Gators opened spring camp this week, where Callaway was seen observing the tight ends group. Florida, officially, opened camp without a tight ends coach or receivers coach.
“We’re built to handle the attrition to some degree,” Napier said when asked about the missing coaches. “The layers that you’ve got in each room, whether it’s an analyst or graduate assistant or a student, whatever we have in each of those rooms, we’ve been able to manage it. Still, it’s evident we need a coach or two there. But we’re going to be patient and work hard but work smart at it.”
Callaway spent five seasons at Samford, where he served as the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2017-19 and the wide receivers coach from 2015-16.
Prior to Samford, Callaway spent two seasons on at Murray State, where he worked with the wide receivers, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
Callaway joined the Racers after winning back-to-back BCS National Championships as a defensive analyst on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. In his role at UA, Callaway assisted defensive coordinator Kirby Smart with the inside linebackers.
Callaway played collegiately as a quarterback at Valdosta State. He was a two-time captain and had his most productive season in 2009 when he went 26-for-45 for 350 yards and three touchdowns.
Callaway graduated from VSU in 2010 with a degree in business management.
Callaway resume
- 10-plus years of experience at the collegiate and NFL Levels
- Stints with the New York Giants, LSU Tigers, and Alabama Crimson Tide
- Has worked with Nick Saban and Kirby Smart
- Callaway was a successful play caller when he held the role of offensive coordinator at Samford
- Led one of the most productive offenses in the FCS with the Bulldogs
- Callaway’s offense led the FCS in passing yards per game in 2018
- Fourth in the FCS in total offense in 2018
- Led the SoCon and ranked fifth in the FCS in passing yards per game in 2017
- Coached the 2018 Walter Payton Award Winner (FCS) at Samford in Devlin Hodges
- Was a two-time team captain as a quarterback at Valdosta State
- Son of longtime coach Neil Callaway
