Florida hires Ron Roberts as executive head coach charged with turning around woeful defense

Florida announced the hiring of veteran defensive assistant Ron Roberts on Tuesday, adding the former Auburn coordinator to coach Billy Napier’s staff in hopes he can help lead a woeful unit back to prominence. Roberts was named executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. The 56-year-old Roberts fills an opening that was created when linebackers coach Jay Bateman left to become Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator in late December.