Jon Sumrall to Florida: Tulane coach lands Gators job on six-year deal as program resets after Billy Napier

Florida has chosen its next leader. Jon Sumrall, the 43-year-old who turned Troy and Tulane into relentless, conference-title factories, has accepted the Gators’ head-coaching job on a six-year contract with annual pay in the mid-to-upper $6 million range plus postseason incentives. He succeeds Billy Napier, dismissed in October amid a 3–4 start and an up-and-down four-year tenure. Florida finished 4–8 and now makes a hard pivot to a coach whose résumé is short on flash and long on wins.

Jon Sumrall, Florida head coach: why the Gators moved now

Florida accelerated its search after the regular season, zeroing in on Sumrall’s track record: 42–11 across four seasons, league championship game appearances every year, and a reputation for disciplined, complementary football. His teams built identities around top-25 defenses, efficient special teams, and ruthless game management—traits Florida believes will steady recruiting and restore SEC credibility.

Sumrall’s SEC ties (as a former Kentucky assistant and recruiter) also mattered. He inherits a roster with blue-chip talent but fragile depth at several spots, plus an NIL operation that needs sharper alignment between boosters, collectives, and staff priorities. A measured program builder who wins the margins was the brief; Sumrall fit it.

Tulane football: what happens next

Sumrall will remain on the Tulane sideline through the end of the 2025 season, including this week’s conference championship (Friday, Dec. 5) and any subsequent College Football Playoff game. Tulane has launched its own search, with the interim and staff assignments to be clarified after the title game. For players and recruits, the message is continuity through December, then a handoff.

Billy Napier out, Florida resets

Napier’s exit in October ended a 22–23 run marked by recruiting wins and sporadic on-field breakthroughs but too many narrow losses and late-game stumbles. Florida named an interim for the stretch run and closed with a rivalry victory over Florida State, but the broader trajectory forced change. The buyout dynamics—significant but no longer prohibitive—removed the last practical roadblock to a new era.

Names you asked about: Brian Hartline, Lane Kiffin, and the rumor mill

As the search heated up, fans floated Brian Hartline and other splashier options. Florida explored multiple avenues before aligning around Sumrall. The takeaway: the Gators prioritized sustained program discipline over headline sizzle. Hartline remains a name to watch elsewhere this cycle, but Florida’s focus is now staff construction under Sumrall.

First 90 days in Gainesville: Sumrall’s to-do list

1. Build the staff

   • OC brief: Tempo-capable, explosive-play DNA, and modern situational calls.

   • DC brief: Presser packages that travel against SEC offensive multiplicity.

   • Recruiting/NIL: A GM-style personnel czar to synchronize high school, portal, and retention.

2. Roster triage

   • Quarterback room: Clarity on development vs. portal addition.

   • Trenches: Two-deep rebalancing—interior OL and edge depth are immediate targets.

   • Special teams: Field position must become a weekly advantage again.

3. Culture and operations

   • Shorten practice-to-game feedback loops, streamline fourth-down/kicking decision trees, and install clear accountability structures for penalties and substitutions.

What this means for the SEC — and for Florida vs. the usual suspects

• Georgia: The standard. Sumrall’s blueprint—defense first, field position, red-zone ruthlessness—aims to narrow the gap through execution before recruiting closes it.

• Alabama/Texas/Ole Miss: Portal-era speedboats. Florida must win December and May (recruiting windows) as decisively as Saturdays.

• Schedule math: In a no-divisions SEC, stacking seven league wins is the path to Atlanta; a disciplined floor matters as much as a flashy ceiling.

FSU vs UF: rivalry implications

Florida State’s roster remains loaded, but Florida’s late rivalry performance was a proof of concept for what cleaner situational football could look like under new leadership. Expect the 2026 edition to be framed as a referendum on how quickly Sumrall’s systems take root—especially along the lines and in special teams.

The Sumrall profile at a glance

• Age: 43

• Record as HC: 42–11 (Troy, Tulane)

• Streak: Four consecutive conference title-game berths across two schools

• Calling card: Fundamentals, defense, field position, and mistake-light football

• Contract: Six years, average annual value near $6.5–$7.5 million with CFP incentives

What’s next and what’s developing

• Today: Florida formalizes staff offers; recruiting and portal boards get reorganized.

• This week: Sumrall coaches Tulane in the league title game; Florida support staff begins Gainesville onboarding.

• Mid-December: Early signing period triage—retain core commits, flip priority targets, and identify plug-and-play portal fits.

• January: Winter conditioning, culture installs, and depth-chart resets.

Recent updates confirm the move and the unusual December overlap—Sumrall finishing Tulane’s run while laying Florida’s foundation. Details around assistant hires and contract structures are evolving; expect further confirmations over the coming days. For now, Florida has its coach, its mandate, and a clear identity play: win the details, win the margins, and let the talent do the rest.