By Eddie Pells
The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Florida hired South Carolina defensive coordinator Charlie Strong on Friday to take over the same spot with the Gators beginning next season.

Strong, who coached defensive line and linebackers at Florida in the late '80s and early '90s, will take over for John Thompson, who last week got the head coaching job at East Carolina.

Thompson will stay with the 22nd-ranked Gators through their game against No. 12 Michigan in the Outback Bowl next Wednesday.

When he leaves, he'll take another Florida assistant with him - special teams coach Jerry Odom. Odom will be the defensive coordinator at East Carolina.

Gators coach Ron Zook, who stressed all season how difficult it is to learn a new coach's system, said the Florida defense won't change much under Strong.

"We're going to do what we've been doing," Zook said. "That's what was important to me. I didn't want to go through putting in new systems because it's not fair to them."

Strong will be Florida's third defensive coordinator in three years.

Like Thompson, Strong is known for running a blitzing, aggressive defense. In 2001, South Carolina finished third (Florida was first) in the Southeastern Conference in yards allowed. This season, the Gamecocks slipped to 10th in the conference.

Zook said he received several phone calls about the opening when Thompson left, but Strong was the best fit. Zook and Strong were both assistants on Steve Spurrier's staff from 1991-94. Zook left for the pros, while Strong left and spent four years at Notre Dame, then followed Lou Holtz to South Carolina.

Holtz was upset to be losing Strong, and didn't discuss his plans for replacing him.

"Charlie indicated that he felt like this decision was something that he needed to do professionally and I hope this is the best decision for him," Holtz said.

Florida players just got the news about Strong's hire when they finished practice Thursday.

"They got after it pretty good," defensive lineman Ian Scott said of his memories of South Carolina's recent defenses. "Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off and improve on what we've done this year."

Florida's defense ranked fifth in the SEC overall - third in the nation in passing this year. Thompson was considered one of the best young members of the staff Zook assembled after he got the job.

Zook said he was happy for Thompson, and Thompson said he was glad Zook was giving him a chance to finish out the season with the Gators.

"I'm grateful to both institutions," Thompson said. "I want to put everything I've got into it this week. I'm excited and looking forward to practicing and getting better."