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Florida Gators head football coach Billy Napier will continue his position moving forward, University of Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin confirmed in a statement shared Thursday (November 7) morning.
Napier began the season on the hot seat following Florida's 41-17 blowout losses to Miami in Week 1 and Texas A&M in Week 3, but has led the team to wins in three of their last five games. The Gators are currently 4-4, two games shy of bowl eligibility with four remaining and all their losses have come against ranked opponents, including three -- Miami, Tennessee and Georgia -- currently holding playoff seeds in the first College Football Playoff Top 25 poll released on Tuesday (November 5).
"Gator Nation, I wanted to let you know that Billy Napier will continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators," Stricklin said. "As we've seen these past several weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator. Their resolve, effort and execution are evident in their performance and growth each week -- building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond."
"I am confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead," Stricklin added. "We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football. As college athletics evolves, UF is committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive in today's competitive landscape."
Napier has gone 15-18 (8-13 SEC) through his first three seasons at Florida, which included back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the now-defunct SEC East Division standings during his first two seasons. The 45-year-old previously went 40-12 (27-5 Sun Belt) during four seasons at Louisiana, which included back-to-back Sun Belt Conference titles in his final two seasons, as well as four consecutive Sun Belt West Division titles.