The Florida Gators have bid farewell to their coach, Billy Napier, after he was recently relieved from his duties at the program. On Sunday, Oct. 19, the Gators announced through their official website that they have sacked Napier after three and a half seasons, a stint that started in 2022 and has now prematurely ended in 2025.
Florida’s current record stands at an overall standing of 3-4 (2-2 SEC), with coach Napier’s final game resulting in a tight two-point win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 23-21, on their home pitch, the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Given Napier’s sudden departure from the squad, several of the players posted their goodbye messages for their coach on social media.
This includes third-year tight end Hayden Hansen, who uploaded a photo of himself in his full Gators uniform, dapping coach Napier. The veteran included a five-word heartfelt caption for his coach’s early exit.
“Thank you for everything, coach,” Hansen captioned with a red heart emoji.
Senior quarterback Harrison Bailey also uploaded a photo of himself and coach Napier on his Instagram stories, using a lone sad emoji as his reaction.
The Gators will now look to improve on their 3-4 record without coach Napier in their Week 8 matchup on Saturday, Nov. 1. Florida is set to take on coach Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, in what is set to be a surefire game between conference rivals.
Also Read: Billy Napier Replacements: Top 5 Coaching Candidates to Replace Florida HC Ft. Lane Kiffin
Billy Gonzales Is Named As Florida’s Interim Head Coach For The Rest Of The 2025 Season
With the departure of coach Billy Napier from the Florida Gators’ helm, University of Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin announced through the team’s official website that receivers tactician Billy Gonzales will take over for the rest of the 2025 campaign as interim head coach.
Stricklin shared his reasoning for selecting Gonzales: his long-standing relationship with the program.
“I have named Billy Gonzales as the interim head coach. Coach Gonzales has been a valued member of our program for many years, including being a part of multiple championship teams. He is a Gator through and through. His deep understanding of our culture, our student-athletes, and what it means to represent the University of Florida makes him well-suited to lead our team,” Stricklin was quoted as saying.
Read More: “Time to Fire Billy Napier”: Calls Mount From Fans To Replace Florida HC as Gators Fall Flat vs LSU
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