The Florida Gators have had an interesting season, to say the least.
After losing two of their first three games to the Miami Hurricanes and Texas A&M Aggies, a report surfaced that boosters were actively looking to secure the funds to cover head coach Billy Napier’s buyout and fire the coach just three games into his third season at the helm.
However, in the time since, Napier and the Gators have turned things around. They enter the season’s final stretch with a 4-4- record. While the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff is out of the question, Florida has a chance to play spoiler for Texas, LSU, or Ole Miss, all of whom they play in November. The Gators also need just two more wins to make a bowl game.
On Thursday, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin released a statement announcing Napier will return as head coach of the Gators in 2025, regardless of how the final four games play out.
A message from Scott Stricklin pic.twitter.com/NpLD6ktrHj
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) November 7, 2024
“Gator Nation, I wanted to let you know that Billy Napier will continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators. As we’ve seen these past several weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator. Their resolve, effort and execution are evident in their performance and growth each week – building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond,” Stricklin’s letter began, before outlining the program’s expectations and how Napier can be the coach to meet them.
Since being named head coach before the 2022 season, Napier has gone 15-18 as coach of the Gators and 8-13 in conference play.
