Hear Florida coach Billy Napier talk about changes in coaching across the country
Florida State football coach Billy Napier spoke about the challenges of changing coaches during his weekly press conference.
Florida State athletic director Scott Stricklin met with several top boosters Tuesday and was told that continued financial support depends on a new direction within the football program, three people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Embattled University of Florida coach Billy Napier could be fired as early as this weekend, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect the ongoing process. One thing is for sure: Napier won’t survive another loss.
Stricklin declined to comment for this story.
This, unlike other speculation about Mr. Napier’s position, is an important and direct connection to Mr. Napier’s near firing last year. At the time, the same Florida booster was ready to pay for Napier’s big acquisition, but was held back by Stricklin, who persuaded him to use the money to support Napier’s buildup in the NIL space.
The boosters agreed, and the result was a vastly upgraded and talented team. Florida State traded five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson, the most talented player on the team, from Oregon State late in the recruiting process with an infusion of NIL money.
That money was also used to keep many impact players already on the roster from leaving for other schools. However, the result on the field was the same.
According to documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Napier’s purchase price is approximately $21 million, with 50% of the amount to be paid in installments within 30 days of the separation and equal payments of 12.5% per year for the next four years.
Napier is expected to finish the season with close ties to the talented roster he built while Florida State searches for its fifth coach since Urban Meyer resigned after the 2010 season.
If Napier chooses not to finish the season, the only coach on the staff with head coaching experience will be defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who led two programs in the NCAA Lower Division (Delta State, Southeastern Louisiana).
The inevitable end for Napier began last month when Florida lost at home to a Group of Five South Florida school as an 18-point favorite. Since then, the Gators have suffered crushing road losses to LSU, Miami and Texas A&M, sandwiched in by an upset against Texas in Gainesville.
Napier was nearly fired last year after a dysfunctional two-season stint at the University of Florida, which started the season with blowouts at home to Miami and Texas A&M. That’s when USA TODAY Sports reported that the Florida cheer squad was prepared to pay Napier’s $28 million buyout.
But Stricklin stood firm on Napier, a likable, methodical coach whose successor the university desperately wanted. After that, the Gators continued their good run with wins over LSU and Ole Miss in the second half. Mr. Stricklin then convinced the boosters to use the buyout funds they might receive from the NIL deal to help source players.
The booster group agreed, but on one condition, three members of the booster group told USA Today Sports. That meant Napier relinquished control of the offense and hired an experienced coordinator and play-caller. He never did.
Napier tried to hire Ole Miss offensive coordinator and play-caller Charlie Weis Jr. before the 2024 season, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. However, Weiss decided to remain with Rebels coach Lane Kiffin, and Napier never took the full job as offensive coordinator.
Now in his fourth season, Napier is 21-23, the worst coaching record at the University of Florida since the 1940s. He has lost in every conceivable way and has no chance against rival Georgia State. The program has fallen further behind in the SEC, which continues to get stronger with each passing week.
Florida State still has tough games remaining against Georgia (Jacksonville, Fla.), Ole Miss and Tennessee (Gainesville), three teams ranked in the top 11 in the U.S. LBM Coaches Poll.
Matt Hayes is a senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports. Follow him on X @MattHayesCFB.
Steve Berkowitz, sports project reporter for USA TODAY Sports Network, contributed to this report.
