Florida Gators expected to hire Billy Napier as next head coach

The Florida Gators have apparently found Dan Mullen’s successor, and the program’s next head coach. 

There’s a new sheriff in Gainseville.

According to Pete Thamel, the Gators have zeroed in on Billy Napier and are expected to name him the school’s next head coach.

“Florida has targeted Louisiana’s Billy Napier as the school’s next coach. An announcement could come as early as this afternoon,” Thamel reported on Sunday.

This should come as no real surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to the Gators coaching search. Napier’s name was mentioned as a potential candidate almost as soon as Mullen was fired, and his stock only rose from there.

Now he’s the guy the Gators want to bring the program back to respectability and dominance.

Billy Napier coaching history

Gators fans who have only recently become aware of Napier’s existence can’t be blamed. In a sea of established big name college head coaches, Napier is not among them. Rather he’s part of the next guard of coaches who are about to hit it big with a major program — or so the Gators are betting.

It’s a pretty solid bet, however,

Napier has been simmering for a few years now, biding his time and being patient in waiting for the right opportunity to cash in on the success he’s had with the Ragin’ Cajuns at Lousiana. Simply put, he’s been in demand and has wisely avoided rushing to the first big job that was available.

Something that should make Florida fans feel really good about this hire is the fact that Napier could have had the pick of the coaching litter, and chose the Gators.

He’s only been a college head coach since 2018, but his four years have been incredible. Lousiana hasn’t finished below first in the Sun Belt since Napier took over, and has made a trip to a Bowl game in each of his seasons on the sideline. After a rocky first-year, the Rajin’ Cajuns have only lost five games since 2019 and have lost only two conference games in the last three years.

Prior to his time leading Louisiana, Napier was on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as a wide receivers coach. During his time there he coached future NFL stars in Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley while also collecting a National Championship in 2015.