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Official: Florida hires Mississippi State's Scott Stricklin as AD

Scott Stricklin, left, has been Mississippi State's athletic director since 2010. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Scott Stricklin, left, has been Mississippi State’s athletic director since 2010. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Florida looked to an SEC foe to find its new athletic director.

After multiple reports emerged Monday, the school announced Tuesday it has hired Mississippi State’s Scott Stricklin as its new AD. Stricklin will replace Jeremy Foley, the longtime Gators AD who announced his retirement in June.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity at Florida,” Stricklin said. “I’m an SEC guy. I understand the position Florida holds in college athletics. I’m excited to come and be part of the department. It’s a great staff here to work with. I love college towns. The opportunity to come and get invested in another community, with my family, you start balancing all that and you understand at this point in my career, this is an opportunity you just can’t not do.”

Stricklin’s first day on the job will be Nov. 1, the school said. Foley will remain in his current role until that date. From there Foley, who is in his 25th year as AD, will take on the role of “Emeritus Athletics Director.”

“Scott Stricklin is a strong leader with tremendous experience who shares the University of Florida’s most treasured values, from the success and well-being of our student athletes to excellence across the breadth of both men’s and women’s sports,” said Florida president Dr. Kent Fuchs. “We’re confident that he will build on Jeremy Foley’s legacy to take UF’s program to even greater heights while leading the way in shaping the future of collegiate athletics nationally.”

Stricklin, 45, is a 1992 Mississippi State graduate and was hired as MSU’s athletic director in 2010. He previously worked as an associate AD at Tulane, Baylor and Kentucky and worked in media relations at Auburn and as an undergraduate at his alma mater.

“I couldn’t have left for any other place but Florida” Stricklin said. “It’s just a special place not only in the world of the SEC, but in college athletics because of the success they’ve had and the way they’ve had it with the integrity. Florida holds a leadership position in college athletics. And you look at the academic reputation, it’s one of the best universities in the country. That’s a pretty hard combination to not take the opportunity if it’s offered to you.”

Stricklin, who will be Florida’s 14th athletic director, has big shoes to fill. Under Foley, the Gators have won 27 national titles in 13 different sports.

“I’ve known Scott on a personal and professional level for a long, long time,” Foley said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Scott and what he has accomplished at Mississippi State and the other institutions where he has worked. Scott is a wonderful leader, and a great person. He has passion for student-athletes and loves working with and supporting coaches. Those two qualities alone make him a great fit for Florida.”

For more Florida news, visit InsideTheGators.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!