Florida hires Joker Phillips as WR coach

The Florida Gators hired former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips be be their wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator on Monday. Phillips, who had been with Kentucky since 2003, became the team's head coach in 2010. It was announced he would not be retained by the Wildcats on Nov. 4. He replaces Aubrey Hill, who resigned from the Florida staff in August.

"His background as a head coach and the number of years he has coached wide receivers will be a tremendous asset to our coaching staff and players," Muschamp said in a statement. "Joker is obviously very familiar with the Southeastern Conference and has always done a great job in recruiting."

Phillips coached wide receivers at Kentucky, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He has spent two decades coaching in the Southeastern Conference.

The Wildcats replaced Phillips with Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. Phillips never had a winning record in his three seasons at Kentucky, and finished with a 13-24 record.