Florida names D.J. Durkin interim coach for bowl game

Florida names D.J. Durkin interim coach for bowl game

Published Nov. 22, 2014 6:47 p.m. ET

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Bowl-bound Florida wasted little time lining up a head coach for the postseason.

After beating Eastern Kentucky 52-3 on Saturday, the Gators (6-4) named defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin interim head coach for the bowl game.

The 36-year-old Durkin is in his fifth season in Gainesville, one of two holdovers from the Urban Meyer regime.

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Durkin joined Florida's staff as special teams coordinator in 2010. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2013, replacing Dan Quinn.

The last time Florida used an interim head coach was in the 2004 Peach Bowl. Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong coached that game, which Florida lost 27-10 to Miami. Strong stayed on as part of Meyer's staff that won two national championships in four years.

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