Quinn named Seahawks defensive coordinator

Rumor and innuendo turned to fact on Thursday. Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn came to Gainesville after eight seasons as an NFL defensive line coach, and after two years of running the defense for the Gators, Quinn is moving back to the professional level.

The Seattle Seahawks named Dan Quinn their defensive coordinator after he spent 2009-10 coaching their defensive line.

Quinn took over as the Florida defensive coordinator when Will Muschamp was named the head coach before the 2011 season. The two worked together for one season with the Miami Dolphins, and Quinn took over the defense in Gainesville while earning play-calling duties for the first time in his career.

In his second year as the defensive coordinator in 2012, the Florida defense was fourth in rush defense (94.9 yards per game), second in pass efficiency defense (95.5) and fifth in total defense (287.46).

Quinn’s specialty in Gainesville was the defensive line. He helped develop players like Sharrif Floyd into an expected first rounder in April.