Former standout Florida linebacker Bam Hardmon hasn’t attended a game at The Swamp since 2007 — when he proposed to his wife during the Gators’ homecoming game.
After a five-year professional playing career and 18 seasons in coaching, Hardmon has returned to Gainesville as Florida’s outside linebackers coach on Jon Sumrall’s newly assembled staff.
“It’s great to be a Gator, the best way to put it,” Hardmon said. “But it feels really good. I walk through the building often, and just say ‘my, my, my, I’m really back here, and actually as a coach now.’”
Hardmon played at UF from 1999–2002, helping the Gators compile a 37–14 record, including a 26–6 mark in SEC play, under head coaches Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook (2002). During that span, Florida captured the 2000 SEC Championship, won the 2001 Orange Bowl, and finished in the AP Top 12 three times.
The Jacksonville native is eager to help restore Florida football’s winning tradition in Gainesville.
“I have a chance to help with the process of getting this place to where it was when I was here. I’m excited that,” Hardmon said.
A Second-Team All-SEC selection as a senior, Hardmon recorded 168 tackles in 2002 — fourth all-time in Florida history and the highest single-season total since. Hardmon believes returning to his alma mater will help him as a recruiter.
“I think it’s definitely an advantage,” Hardmon said. “Because I can truly go into a parent’s home and really talk about the Orange & Blue.”
“It’s something that once upon a time, Coach Spurrier, he came into my home when I was a player and really spoke to my family. I can preach about what the academic program means, what the community here is all about. So, I definitely think it’s an advantage just being at a place like this for sure, at the University of Florida, where there is so much tradition here as well. I can speak about that because my name is on a wall or two. I’m on a picture here and there. I think there’s an advantage there when, as a kid comes in, I can say, ‘Hey, that’s Bam Hardmon. That’s me.’ Those types of things.”
Hardmon and Sumrall have a long history together. They first worked as assistants on Troy’s staff from 2015–2017, and when Sumrall returned as Troy’s head coach in 2022–2023, Hardmon remained on staff as the defensive line coach. Later, when Sumrall took over at Tulane, he brought Hardmon on as his outside linebackers coach and defensive run-game coordinator.
“I think he is a competitive guy for sure. You guys have probably noticed that already,” Hardmon said on Sumrall. “But just getting around him, he has a lot of knowledge. He goes about business the right way. He’s a great motivator as well, and he’s a server of these players. Just continue to see him grown in that manner has been great for me in my career.”
Hardmon will coach the JACK position, consisting of Jayden Woods, Kofi Asare, KJ Ford, Titus Bullard, Charles Emanuel III, and Erich Seager.
“We have to be sound and explosive,” Hardmon said. “It’s one of those things where Coach White actually came in the room this morning and said, ‘Hey, we gotta be dominant on the edge.’ When it comes to rushing the passer, or when it comes to containing different things where we have to make an impression.
“We have some guys that’s returning, we have some guys that have high upside. So at this time, we just gotta put it all in the flow. And I think this spring will be a great opportunity for us to go out and just work at it so that come fall, we can actually produce it.”
The one to watch is rising sophomore Jayden Woods, a standout Florida managed to reel back from the transfer portal after a team high 3.5 sacks as a true freshman.
“Really good player. I’m excited to see what he is going to do,” Hardmon said on Woods. “Obviously, last year, he’s had some success. I think just as he grows into year two, I think the sky’s the limit for him. I think he approaches things the right way, just from a work ethic, from his preparation. So he’s doing all the right things in the offseason to help give him a chance to having a lot of success when fall starts.”
Florida opens spring camp on Tuesday, March 3rd.