The Florida Gators have officially hired Giants’ assistant Criag Fitzgerald as their new strength and conditioning coach, the University announced on Wednesday evening.
Fitzgerald will take the place of Mark Hocke, who spent two seasons as Florida’s Associate Head Coach/Director of Football Strength and Conditioning before the Gators decided to go in different direction this offseason.
“We’ve been in an evaluation mode,” Napier said on the strength and conditioning program. “I do anticipate some different leadership there, different approach there.”
It’s expected that Hocke stays on staff in a different role as they help him with the “transition into the coaching element,” Napier said during Florida’s early singing day press conference.
Fitzgerald brings over 25 years of experience to the table, starting his coaching career back in 1997 with Catholic University, serving as their director of strength and conditioning.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Craig and his family—his wife, Mary, and sons, Mac, Joe and Luke, to Gainesville and to the UF community,” Napier said. “We’re very excited to add coach Fitz to our team. He brings a significant level of experience in both college and the NFL. He will help each player on our team reach their potential. His reputation precedes itself and we are excited about the leadership he will bring and the impact he will have on our entire organization.”
The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native has made coaching stops at seven different universities, including two SEC teams. Fitzgerald worked at South Carolina under Head Coach Steve Spurrier from 2009-11 and Tennessee from 2018-19.
Fitzgerald joined the National Football League with the Houston Texans in 2014. Most recently, Fitzgerald joined the New York Giants in 2020 under then-head coach Joe Judge and survived the transition to the new regime of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
“I’m extremely excited to join coach Napier and his staff, and to be part of Gator Nation,” Fitzgerald said. “I look forward to being part of such a storied program and can’t wait to get to work.”