When Florida football coach Billy Napier received a vote of confidence from athletic director Scott Stricklin last week to return for a fourth season, there was an assumption it came with conditions.
“We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football,” Stricklin said. “As college athletics evolves, UF is committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”
That set off the message board rumor mill that the word “changes” means the end of Napier as both head coach and play-caller for the Florida Gators in 2025.
It could happen. But I would also respond with a quote from the esteemed Spanish philosopher George Santayana, “those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”
Last season, rumors swirled that Napier was going to go outside his coaching staff to bring in a new offensive coordinator. Liberty offensive coordinator Will Korn’s name was floated. Ultimately, Napier held on to his role as play-caller, citing the chemistry he created with quarterback Graham Mertz and the chance for UF’s offense to reach greater heights in 2024.
Napier could make the same argument next season with quarterback DJ Lagway, who showed promise and big-play ability before going down with a hamstring injury that could sideline him the rest of the season. Mertz suffered a torn ACL on Oct. 13 against Tennessee and is done for the year as well.
Florida enters its matchup with No. 22 LSU on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ABC) 12th in the SEC in total offense at 383.3 yards per game. Asked to evaluate play-calling and offensive game planning to this point, Napier replied: “I’m not ready to do any of that. Focused on LSU right now.”
Napier has insisted it’s been a collaborative effort all year on offense with quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara, offensive analyst Dan Enos and Russ Callaway, UF’s tight ends coach last season who was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2024. There were some rumblings that Callaway called plays in UF’s 41-17 season-opening loss to Miami, but Napier wouldn’t answer whether he re-took control of the play calls during UF’s 45-7 win over Samford in Week 2. Specifically, Napier referred to play-calling as “overrated” when asked the question.
Who can Florida football get to take over as offensive coordinator?
Who could Florida hire to take the reins of the offense with Napier as a lame duck coach going into the 2024 season?
Darin Hinshaw has shown some promise down the road at UCF, though given the struggles of the Knights of late, his star has fallen.
Will Stein of Oregon, Mike Denbrock of Notre Dame and Andy Kotelnicki of Penn State would be big ticket items. Mike Shanahan at Indiana (no relation to San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan or former UF offensive coordinator and Super Bowl winning coach Mike Shanahan) is another possibility.
Napier has shown he’s not afraid to make changes to the coaching staff, jettisoning secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer last season for secondary coach Will Harris and defensive line coach Gerald Chatman. Harris has proven to be an upgrade, as UF’s nine interceptions this season rank fifth in the SEC this season. Under Raymond, UF recorded only three interceptions all last season.
“It’ll be much like most years that I’ve been a head coach,” Napier said. “I think we kind of back up and take a big picture look at the organization as a whole. You know, what areas are thriving? What areas need to be revamped?
“Look there is an evolution to the game in terms of how you format the organization, job descriptions, work flows, and a big piece of that puzzle in the revenue share that begins on July 1.
“So just the front office component, making progress towards that. Then you’re always going to evaluate the nuts and bolts, right, the coaching, the development piece. I think we’ve made a few changes each year. I think it’ll be the same this year.”
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