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GAINESVILLE - The 2005 Florida assistant football coaching staff is the highest paid in school history with a combined $1.38-million in salaries, according to contracts released Monday.
Of the 10 assistants, only associate head coach John "Doc" Holliday received a two-year contract, which runs through 2007. All others are one-year agreements.
Holliday will earn $390,000 over two years: $175,000 in base salary (including $10,000 for the school's Nike apparel contract), a $25,000 retention bonus for this season and a $15,000 bonus if he hangs around for a second season.
Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong , the only coach from Ron Zook 's staff, got a $23,000 raise to $190,000.
Last season, the combined salaries of the assistants was approximately $1.2-million, with Strong the highest paid at $167,000 and former offensive coordinator Larry Fedora earning $161,000.
The remaining salaries: tight ends coach Steve Addazio ($130,000), running backs coach Stan Drayton ($120,000), receivers coach Billy Gonzales ($110,000), recruiting coordinator/cornerbacks coach Chuck Heater ($140,000), offensive line coach John Hevesy ($140,000), co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison ($190,000) and offensive coordinator Dan Mullen ($150,000).
The totals include $10,000 for the school's Nike apparel contract and each coach also receives a dealer car and other incentives such as funds for working the Gators' football camps.
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT: Running back DeShawn Wynn 's status for Saturday's opening game may be tied to what he does in practice this week.
Coach Urban Meyer said Wynn and others could miss the Wyoming game because they haven't fulfilled requirements for taking the field. Wynn reportedly was suspended for the first game several weeks ago.
"Well, I don't know if suspended is the right word," Meyer said. "I know that there are going to be some players who won't play because they haven't done what they've needed to do. Is DeShawn one of those? I don't know yet. I'll have to make that decision on game day.
"The best players and the most invested players play. There is still time for investment."
WANTED: A GATOR HEAD: Its whereabouts remain a mystery, but Meyer said it's likely the gator head that was removed from the locker room as part of the staff's motivational tactics will be returned this week. Players traditionally rubbed the gator as they left the locker room, but Meyer took it away in April.
"I'm hoping it will," Meyer said when asked if it would be returned. "Today is Monday, and we still have a few more days to earn that thing back. I'm anticipating it will be there."
The players said they desperately want it back.
"I love touching that gator," senior defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. "It's a symbol of pride.
"It's been weird (without it) to come in the stadium, you look and all you see is a big black hole. It just ain't right."
EARLY TEST: After opening the season with a 3-1 win over Drake, the soccer team will get its first real test when it travels to play defending national champion Notre Dame on Friday. The Gators also play at Connecticut at noon on Sunday.
"Both of those teams are going to really show us where our strengths and our weaknesses are," coach Becky Burleigh said. "This past weekend, we saw some good things with our younger players and we saw some good things from our returners, but we also know we are going to have to be a lot better this weekend to compete with the two teams we're playing. ... We like to play these tough games early because I think it helps prepare us for later.
"Obviously we go into this game wanting to win, but at the same time we think we'll find out a lot about our team through this type of experience."
--Antonya English covers Florida athletics. She can be reached at 813 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com