‘Love Me or Hate Me, I Understand’ — Fans Erupt Over Florida Coach Will Harris’ Goodbye Message

Miami Hurricanes’ newly appointed safeties coach, Will Harris, didn’t leave Gainesville, Fla., without a heartfelt goodbye. After being let go from his role with the Gators, Harris took to social media to express his gratitude.

Florida Fans Are Disappointed To See Will Harris Go

He kicked off his farewell by thanking head coach Billy Napier and athletic director Scott Stricklin for allowing him to be part of the program in Gainesville.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Billy Napier and Scott Stricklin for giving me the opportunity to coach at The University of Florida. Billy – As they say, the ones who bleed together are brothers. We went through the trenches last year and pulled out one hell of a…

— Will Harris (@CoachWillHarris) February 15, 2025

Harris didn’t shy away from making it clear that his departure from Florida wasn’t by choice. In a candid statement, he acknowledged the tough reality of college football.

“With that being said, I understand business is business, and you have to do what you believe is best for the University of Florida’s football program. I appreciate you,” he explained.

Stricklin rarely makes the firing of his staff public, so Harris decided to do it himself. However, the fans were quite distressed by the announcement.

Harris acknowledged everyone who contributed to his journey with the Gators. He also expressed his gratitude to Florida’s athletic director, Scott Stricklin, praising him not just for his leadership but also for the thoughtful conversations they shared.

“Mr. Stricklin, I appreciate your always-open-door policy, transparency, and willingness to listen. I’ll definitely miss our good convos [sic],” he wrote.

Harris didn’t forget to thank the Gators’ fanbase, expressing his deep appreciation for their unwavering support. He fondly reflected on his time in Gainesville, calling the past season an unforgettable experience.

“Gator Nation – Love me or hate me, I understand. Either way, it was one cool ass season. Again, business is business,” he added.

Finally, Harris took a moment to acknowledge the invaluable friendships he built during his two-season tenure with the program. From fellow coaches to players and staff, he emphasized how these relationships made his time at Florida even more meaningful.

“To my guys –  Love is an understatement. Nothing can break our bonds. When you’ve stacked bricks together, they could never be knocked down,” Harris said.

The fans expressed their sadness over the farewell message, which was posted by Harris on his X account on Feb. 14.

One user was quite confused by the Gators’ decision. “I have no idea the reason, but I wish you well,” one commenter responded.

“I appreciate the work you put in bringing the DB room back to Florida standards,” Another user mentioned, referencing that he always loved his coaching style at Gainesville.

“Congratulations, I hope you much success, it’s what it’s all about,” another user wrote, wishing him luck for his future endeavors.

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Harris played a key role in elevating Florida’s pass defense, guiding the Gators to a fourth-place SEC finish while Miami ranked just behind at fifth. Under his watch, Florida’s defense completed 58% of pass attempts with 14 interceptions, the numbers nearly identical to Miami’s 57.7% completion rate and 14 picks.

With such a strong defensive track record, Harris could be the missing piece that takes Miami’s secondary to the next level in 2025.

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