http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...245747.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines-gators
GAINESVILLE -- Rob Lanier, a former head coach at Siena College and most recently an assistant coach at Virginia, has joined coach Billy Donovan's staff at Florida.
Lanier's hire fills the hole created when associate head coach Donnie Jones became head coach at Marshall University.
"It goes without saying that Florida is a great program,'' Lanier said by telephone Tuesday. "It's a great time to get in when the program is in a little bit of a transition in terms of identity.''
Lanier, 38, is here to help rebuild the Gators, who will feature four sophomores and five freshmen in 2007-08. He nearly came to UF last year to replace Anthony Grant but elected to remain at Virginia after head coach Dave Leitao gave him a raise.
"I made the decision exactly the same way this year as last year,'' Lanier said. "I thought this was the right time for this type of opportunity.''
Lanier earned a reputation as a strong recruiter at Texas, signing players such as T.J. Ford and Royal Ivey. His performance there got him hired as head coach at Siena, where from 2001-2005 his teams went 58-70 and reached one NCAA Tournament and one NIT.
GAINESVILLE -- Rob Lanier, a former head coach at Siena College and most recently an assistant coach at Virginia, has joined coach Billy Donovan's staff at Florida.
Lanier's hire fills the hole created when associate head coach Donnie Jones became head coach at Marshall University.
"It goes without saying that Florida is a great program,'' Lanier said by telephone Tuesday. "It's a great time to get in when the program is in a little bit of a transition in terms of identity.''
Lanier, 38, is here to help rebuild the Gators, who will feature four sophomores and five freshmen in 2007-08. He nearly came to UF last year to replace Anthony Grant but elected to remain at Virginia after head coach Dave Leitao gave him a raise.
"I made the decision exactly the same way this year as last year,'' Lanier said. "I thought this was the right time for this type of opportunity.''
Lanier earned a reputation as a strong recruiter at Texas, signing players such as T.J. Ford and Royal Ivey. His performance there got him hired as head coach at Siena, where from 2001-2005 his teams went 58-70 and reached one NCAA Tournament and one NIT.
