Sports Illustrated and the Gainesville Sun are reporting that the Florida Gators will hire Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier for the same role in new coach’s Jim McElwain’s staff. Hail Florida Hail is granting three guesses as to what other SEC school Nussmeier has coached, and the first two guess don’t count.

That’s right, the answer is Alabama, just as McElwain himself and new defensive coordinator Goeff Collins have. Nussmeier replaced McElwain as the Alabama offensive coordinator in 2012 after he left to be head coach at Colorado State.

Nussmeier put up big numbers at Alabama, but his offensive success at Michigan is more limited to a strong running game. SI reports that Nussmeier’s and McElwain’s careers are closely tied, with each working for coach John L. Smith at Michigan State between 2003-05. Nussmeier also succeeded McElwain as the Fresno State offensive coordinator in 2008.

Given that history, it’s obvious that these two are close personally and that this is one of those “if I ever get there, you’re coming with me” sort of things. Which is great, of course, because Gator fans want to give McElwain the people he needs around him to succeed.

In this case, it looks like Nussmeier is being brought in to complement McElwain’s offensive know-how, with an assistant that adds a stronger focus on the running game.

Given that he’s already hired a defensive coordinator to replace the position currently held by D.J. Durkin, it’s no surprise that a hire to replace current offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who will have to look for a new position.

Here’s some excellent work by the Gainesville Sun’s Robbie Andreu on Nussmeier’s background.

The Sun has confirmed that Nussmeier is going to be named the offensive coordinator at Florida. — Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) December 23, 2014

Nussmeier had a 1,000-yard rusher in six consecutive seasons before he went to Michigan and ran into that mess this season. — Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) December 23, 2014

Some of the QBs Nussmeier has mentored: AJ McCarron, Jake Locker, Marc Bulger and Drew Stanton. — Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) December 23, 2014