The Florida Gators will make a change to their strength and conditioning program ahead of the 2024 season as Mark Hocke will take on a new role, Head Coach Billy Napier confirmed on Wednesday evening.
Mark Hocke, Florida’s Director of Football Strength and Conditioning and the team’s associate head coach, spent all four seasons (2018-21) at Louisiana with Napier before joining the Gators’ staff prior to the 2022 season. Prior to Louisiana, Hocke spent the 2017 season at Texas A&M where he served as the Football Strength and Conditioning coach.
Prior to Texas A&M, Hocke spent one season as the co-associate head football strength and conditioning coach at Florida State where he served under head football coach Jimbo Fisher and strength coach Vic Viloria.
“I think, like we talked about previously, we’re kind of in — we’ve been in an evaluation mode. I do anticipate some different leadership there, different approach there,” Napier said during Florida’s early signing day press conference. “You guys all know Mark. Mark’s an unbelievable leader, person. He’s done an unbelievable job for me personally for six years. I can’t compliment him enough in terms of character and loyalty. One of the things that Mark and I have always talked about is what’s next for him in his career? Ultimately we’re going to try to help Mark with that, and he’s going to be doing different things for our organization, a lot more upstairs, kind of making some of that transition into the coaching element. He’s always had aspirations to do those things, and I think that presents an opportunity for us to bring new leadership from a strength and conditioning standpoint.”
Napier also confirmed that Florida is in the middle of searching for a new candidate to replace Hocke’s role.
“I do think that we’re right in the middle of that process,” Napier said. “But I can’t compliment Mark enough relative to the work he’s done for us. We wouldn’t be here without Mark Hawke. I’m excited about helping Mark pursue some of the things that he and I have always discussed.”
Mark Hocke is expected to remain on staff during the 2024 season in an assistant role.