A former USF Bull is coming home to coach at Admiral Farragut.

Ryan Hearn, a three-year letterman for the Bulls and 2003 graduate, was hired Wednesday to take over the Blue Jackets football program, a source told Bright House Sports Network. He was selected out of a pool of over 70 candidates.

"My family and I are super excited," Hearn said. "We're ready to go."

He's the team's third head coach in six months, and takes over a program that appeared in the Class 2A championship game in 2011.

Hearn most recently spent time as the head coach at West Port High School in Ocala, his hometown. He's gone 14-16 since he was hired in 2010, but took over a team that had only three wins in the previous four seasons before his arrival.

He brought a wealth of collegiate experience to the program. Prior to his time at West Port, he spent five seasons on the staff at The Citadel, coaching wide receivers, tight ends and handling recruiting responsibilities. Hearn also spent time under former USF coach Jim Leavitt, serving as a graduate assistant for two seasons.

"Those were some of the best years of my life when I was down there with Jim Leavitt and Rick Kravtiz and all those guys at USF," Hearn said. "...I got to play there, I got to be a G.A. there and I learned so much. Not only on the football side, but on the recruiting side and that's what really gives me an edge. I know what these colleges are looking for and I can really help these young men out."

Kravitz was Hearn's defensive coordinator during his playing days at USF. He also served on Hearn's staff at West Port last season as a DC before accepting the job at Gibbs.

"We are very close and very good friends," Hearn said. "He's one of my mentors. I joked with him saying I missed our breakfasts together, and that I had to come back down and see ya. He got a good laugh out of it."

Hearn's Tampa Bay roots extend beyond USF. After his days with the Bulls, he played one season in the Arena Football League, splitting time with the Tampa Bay Storm and Orlando Predators. His wife is from Tampa, and attended Academy of the Holy Names.

This isn't the first time Hearn's name has been associated with the AFA job.

He was one of three finalists that applied for the job in January after Chris Miller resigned. Buster Davis won the job, but stepped down just four months into his tenure. The former FSU linebacker coached the Blue Jackets spring game, but said he needed to step away to be with his family in Jacksonville.

"It's just one of those deals where negotiations last time just broke down," Hearn said. "They called back, and I told them I was interested."

Hearn didn't have a second interview. He was contacted by the administration after Davis' resignation and said negotiations then picked back up.

"I knew that was a place I was very interested in just because of the prestige and the recognition of Admiral Farragut," he said. "That's where my wife's family is from and it's important to her to be close to her family."

Admiral Farragut has made it to the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. They went 8-2 last season, but missed the playoffs.

Hearn will meet with parents and players Friday night to express his vision for the Blue Jackets program. He will teach Physical Education, and said he plans to be on campus - and begin working - as early as tomorrow morning.

"Jim Leavitt and his personality, those are the guys that taught me. You hit the ground running, you grind and you go to work and you put in long nights an that's what we'll do. That's something I want to make sure I get going right away."

Ryan Bass is a reporter for Bright House Sports Network. Find him on twitter, @Ry_Bass.