The Florida Gators have hired Billy Napier as the 24th full-time head coach in program history, the school announced on Sunday afternoon.
Napier will coach Louisiana’s Sun Belt Championship Game against Appalachian State on Saturday and will arrive at UF the following day.
“I’ve followed and studied Billy Napier’s career with interest, and he became the primary target immediately after this position came open,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “We felt confident he would be an excellent leader for the Gators, which is why he was the only candidate I met with about the job.
“Billy’s ability to bring highly-talented people together – players, coaches and staff – along with his vision for having a strong, relationship-based culture is what made him such an attractive choice. Add in how detailed his plan is for player development, staffing and recruiting, along with a sustained desire to improve, and it’s easy to see why he’s been successful.
“I’m so pleased that Billy, Ali, Annie, Sammy Nelson and Charlie are coming to Gainesville. It’s an exciting day for the Gators.”
Napier, 42, spent the last four years as the head coach at Louisiana, where he posted a 39-12 record. The Ragin’ Cajuns accomplished a number of milestones under his watch. They entered the Associated Press Poll for the first time ever after upsetting Iowa State to open the 2020 season. They finished the 2020 season ranked No. 19 in the College Football Playoff rankings. They recorded the first two 10-win seasons in school history.
Napier won the school’s first four Sun Belt West division titles. They won the conference championship in 2020, and they’re favored to do so again this year when they take on Appalachian State on Saturday. They’ve only lost two games since the start of 2020, and one of them came against a vastly more talented Texas team.
As the primary play-caller, he oversaw some highly productive offenses. They finished in the top-3 in the Sun Belt in scoring every year, and they led the league in total offense in 2019.
Quarterback Levi Lewis produced the first 3,000-yard passing season in program history in 2019, and he followed that up by being named Second Team All-Sun Belt after the 2020 season. He’s thrown for 2,274 yards this season and has only tossed four interceptions.
Kickoff returner Chris Smith was named a Second Team All-American by the FWAA after a 2020 season that saw him average nearly 27 yards per return and score two touchdowns. Smith ranks among the Sun Belt leaders in rushing this year with 834 yards.
Napier’s team have also excelled on defense, finishing the 2019 season ranked 18th in the FBS in scoring defense and the 2020 season ranked 31st. They’re ranked inside the top-15 in 2021.
“We are humbled and honored to accept this incredible opportunity to be the head football coach at the University of Florida,” Napier said. “Our team, staff and entire organization will work daily to establish a program with integrity and class that we all can be proud of. More importantly, we will build a culture that is centered around making an impact on our players — as people, as students and on the field.
“We embrace the expectations and are excited about the challenge ahead. We will assemble a special group of people and immediately get to work building a great program. A special thank you to President Dr. Fuchs and Athletic Director Scott Stricklin. We look forward to getting to Gainesville and starting this journey!”
Napier played quarterback at Furman from 1999-2002 and started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Clemson from 2003-04. He left for one season as the quarterbacks coach at South Carolina State before returning to Clemson as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator prior to the 2006 season.
When Dabo Swinney took over as head coach following Tommy Bowden’s firing midway through the 2008 season, Napier was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
The Tigers scored a then-school record 436 points in 2009 with Napier calling the plays. The offense regressed in 2010, though, which prompted his dismissal.
He resurrected his career by serving as an analyst on Alabama’s 2011 national championship team. When then-Alabama offensive coordinator and future Florida head coach Jim McElwain left to become the head coach at Colorado State in 2012, he brought Napier with him as his quarterbacks coach.
He spent just one season in Fort Collins before rejoining Nick Saban, this time in an on-field role as wide receivers coach.
Over his four seasons at Alabama, Napier played a role in transitioning the Crimson Tide’s offense from a run-oriented, ball-control unit to the wide-open, pass-heavy attack that they’re known for today. He also helped the Tide win another national championship in 2015.
He coached the school’s first Biletnikoff Award winner, Amari Cooper, who caught an SEC record 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014. He also helped recruit and develop Calvin Ridley, who was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Napier spent the 2017 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arizona State before accepting his first head coaching job at Louisiana.
Recruiting is considered one of his biggest strengths. While at Alabama, he was the primary recruiter for five-star left tackle Cam Robinson and the secondary recruiter for a number of other top prospects, including receivers Jerry Jeudy and Ridley and defensive back Trevon Diggs, all of whom are currently in the NFL.
While he was at Clemson, he helped recruit quarterback Tahj Boyd, who went on to break the school’s all-time records for passing yards and passing touchdowns.
His last three recruiting classes at Louisiana ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt, and his 2022 class currently ranks second.
Napier, who grew up in Chatsworth, Georgia, has three children with his wife, Ali: Annie, Sammy Nelson and Charlie. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science from Furman in 2002.