Titans Expected to Hire Former Florida Aide

Cal State Fullerton, which lost a football game to Florida by 65 points last season, may take a few pages from the Gator playbook this season.

Fullerton, seeking a replacement for longtime offensive coordinator Jerry Brown, is close to hiring former Florida offensive assistant Mike Heimerdinger, athletic department sources said.

Although an announcement from the university is not due until later this week, Heimerdinger is expected to replace Brown, who left after eight years to become an assistant coach with the Minnesota Vikings.

Heimerdinger, 35, coached the wide receivers and quarterbacks at Florida last season. He was one of four Florida assistants who resigned in January in Coach Galen Hall’s move to revamp his staff.

Heimerdinger had been at Florida since 1983, and before that coached briefly at North Texas State and Air Force. He also has been a high school coach and was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Eastern Illinois University, where he played football and baseball.

At Fullerton, he will be the focal point of a largely new staff of assistants. Four coaches have left since last season, including two key assistants, Brown and defensive coordinator Steve Hall, who left for personal reasons.

Fullerton, which finished with a 6-6 record last season, begins fall practice Aug. 8 and opens against Southwestern Louisiana Sept. 3.