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    • Acquisition of Billy Napier, record, especially since Florida football keeps its coach
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    Acquisition of Billy Napier, record, especially since Florida football keeps its coach

    Umito Posted on

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    (This story has been updated with clarification on Florida football’s statement).

    There will be no head coaching search for Florida football after all.

    Two days before Alligators“Week 11 contest against Texas and Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday this coach Billy Napier “will continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators.”

    Thursday’s announcement ends questions about Napier’s job security – for now – and whether Florida will have to pay Napier the massive buyout of his seven-year contract worth $51.8 million.

    MANDATORY READING: Hot seat lifted: AD announces Florida football coach Billy Napier will return for 2025 season

    Here’s what you need to know about why Napier remains in Gainesville on the Gators sidelines:

    Why is Billy Napier staying in Florida?

    Napier hasn’t fared very well in the SEC in his three seasons, as the Gators have a combined record of 8-13 in conference play alone. He also took the heat from Nick Saban, former Alabama coach on the need for a culture change in the Florida locker room.

    But we can highlight the work accomplished by Napier and his team after the Gators’ 1-2 start to the season. Since their home opener against then-unranked Texas A&M on September 14, Florida has won three of its last five games.

    The Gators also showed glimpses of their future with quarterback DJ Lagway in those five games, even in their two losses to top 10 teams in Tennessee and Georgia.

    MANDATORY READING: Billy Napier staying at Florida: College football reactions to Gators coach’s announcement

    Statement from Scott Stricklin

    In his statement Thursday, Stricklin pointed to Florida’s turnaround this season — and the way the Gators have rallied around each other — as reasons why Napier remains in Gainesville. The release also said Florida is “dedicated to a disciplined and stable approach focused on the sustainable, long-term success of Gatorr athletes, recruits and fans.”

    Stricklin also mentioned that he was “confident” that Napier would meet “the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

    Here is Stricklin’s full statement:

    Billy Napier record

    Entering Week 11 of the college football season, Napier has led Florida to a 15-18 overall record in his two-plus seasons in Gainesville. He led the Gators to just one bowl berth, a 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl.

    Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of how the Gators have fared under Napier:

    SEC registration in parentheses

    • 2022: 6-7 (3-5)
    • 2023: 5-7 (3-5)
    • 2024: 4-4 (2-3)
    • Overall: 15-18 (8-13)

    Billy Napier buyout, contract details

    • Redemption cost: $27.1 million

    If Napier had been fired without cause, Florida would have owed him about $27.1 million, per details of his contract as provided to the USA TODAY Network.

    The $27.1 million buyout was calculated based on the remaining 85% of total compensation on his deal, which is scheduled to end on January 31, 2029. Per his contract, he would be owed 50% of his buyout in the 30 days following its redemption. termination, with the remaining 50% paid in increments of 12.5% ​​based on payments scheduled for July 15 from 2025 to 2028.

    Napier is ranked the 21st highest-paid college football coach among public universities and colleges, according to the USA TODAY database.

    USA TODAY’s Steve Berkowitz contributed to this report.

    Umito
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