Florida hires La-Lafayette coach Napier to replace Mullen
Florida hired LouisianaLafayette’s Billy Napier on Sunday to be the Gators’ next football coach.
The move ends a quick process that landed Florida its top target one week after it fired Dan Mullen.
The 42-year-old Napier will remain with the Ragin Cajuns (11-1) this week as they prepare to host Appalachian State (10-2) in the Sun Belt Conference championship game Saturday. He is 39-12 in four seasons in Lafayette, including 32-5 the past three years.
“We are humbled and honored to accept this incredible opportunity to be the head football coach at the university of Florida,” Napier said in a statement. “Our team, staff and entire organization will work daily to establish a program with integrity and class that we all can be proud of.
“We embrace the expectations and are excited about the challenge ahead.”
Florida scheduled an introductory news conference with Napier for Dec. 5.
Mullen was fired last Sunday after the Florida’s fourth loss in five games. He was let go less than a year after leading the Gators to a third consecutive New Year’s Six bowl.
Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin moved quickly to land Napier, a former receivers coach at Alabama under Nick Saban and a former offensive coordinator at Clemson and Arizona State.
“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,” Stricklin said in a statement.
Napier takes over a Florida program that’s been in disarray for more than a year but is close to opening an $85 million football facility that could help the team catch up in recruiting.
Napier is known for having detailed organization skills that he adopted during his time with Saban. His contract calls for a $3 million buyout to be paid to Louisiana-Lafayette.
ELSEWHERE
Southern California: The Trojans are finalizing a deal for Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley to be its next coach in a stunning and rare move of one traditional college football powerhouse swiping another’s highly accomplished head coach, according to multiple reports. Riley is 55-10 in five seasons leading the Sooners, winning four Big 12 titles and making three College Football Playoff appearances.
The 38-year-old native Texan is widely considered one of the top offensive minds in the college game.