On Oct. 19, Billy Napier was fired by the Florida Gators, following a disappointing 3-4 start. His stay in the Swamp ended with a 22–23 overall record over four seasons. He bagged a substantial buyout amount of $21 million. Before Florida, he was the head coach of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, where he went 40-12 overall and captured two Sun Belt championships.
With Napier a free agent in the coaching market, there have been intense speculations regarding his future.
Is Billy Napier Going to James Madison?
Billy Napier is seeking a position in college football, and some rumors tie him to James Madison. However, there is no official confirmation as of now that he has actually signed any contract with the program.
According to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, Napier has emerged as a “a person of interest” for the James Madison head coaching job.
There’s an opening at James Madison as Bob Chesney is leaving to become the head coach of UCLA.
Apart from James Madison, Billy Napier is also emerging as a top candidate for the job at Tulane. As per Tulane beat writer Guerry Smith, Napier is among the five candidates who have interviewed for this job. Other names include Chesney, Blake Baker, Charles Huff and Will Hall.
Billy Napier Became Emotional After Coaching Florida To Win in Final Game
Billy Napier was fired after their narrow 23-21 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. At the time, while his firing news was not official, but his emotional response give away when he was asked about his future.
“I was called to coach, and the good comes with the bad,” Napier said postgame. “Never going to make everybody happy in these leadership positions. When you’re in charge, these are things that come with it.”
Napier also received a shout-out from his players for helping them. This includes starting quarterback DJ Lagway, who said:
“I’m extremely grateful for Coach Napier. For everything he’s done for my family and me. He’s a heck of a head coach, and I’m thankful to be able to play for him.”
It remains to be seen where his future lies in college football.
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