Florida Fires Billy Napier; Gonzales Interim

The University of Florida fired head coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19, ending a four-season, 22–23 run, with athletic director Scott Stricklin saying a change in leadership was needed. Receivers coach Billy Gonzales was named interim head coach. The move prompted immediate recruiting ripples—some high-school commits voiced disappointment while others reaffirmed or reopened visit plans—and renewed scrutiny of Napier’s inconsistent in-state recruiting. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin quickly emerged in speculative discussion as a top candidate, though Kiffin declined to comment, calling such talk a distraction as he focuses on Ole Miss. Interim UF leadership and the Board of Trustees publicly backed Stricklin and pledged resources for the coaching search, and the decision sent shockwaves through the coaching market, putting assistants who followed Jedd Fisch to Florida at risk and prompting several names to surface as early candidates.