Florida’s regular-scheduled weekly press conference for Billy Napier will move along as scheduled Monday, which suggests “no changes are imminent” for the Gators, per Swamp247, following the team’s 33-20 loss to Texas A&M. Napier’s second home blowout loss this season and seventh-straight overall against FBS competition has many opining on his future in Gainesville and how long Florida will wait to pull the plug on a deteriorating tenure.
Florida would owe Napier a buyout north of $25 million if fired during or after the 2024 season. Napier’s seat is scorching after the Gators’ 1-2 start with no signs of positivity in sight facing the nation’s toughest schedule.
The Gators dropped to 9-16 against FBS opponents with their blowout loss to the Aggies, this setback coming two weeks after Florida’s worst loss to Miami in more than two decades.
“I think that ultimately we’ve worked extremely hard, and I think we’ve — there’s been a ton of progress made,” Napier said Saturday. “I think my frustrations are with how we’ve played two out of the last three weeks. That’s where my frustration is. I think we’ve done a lot of good in terms of behind the walls and just the organization as a whole. I truly believe that. I think most people that have familiarity with our program would say that. We’re not getting the result on the field right now that we want, but ultimately that’s how you’re judged to some degree in this arena, so it comes with the territory.
“We all understand that as coaches. So we have to play more competitive football. We have to play better quality football. That’s my responsibility. We’ve spent a lot of time — we work extremely hard. We have good people. But this is a production business, and ultimately we’ve got to play better.”
Napier, widely-presumed to be on the SEC’s hottest seat, is signed through the 2028 season on a deal he first inked in December 2021 worth $51.8 million. Napier received $7.1 million during his first season and saw an increase of $100,000 last fall amid a 6-7 finish. Parting ways with Napier early would come with a hefty price tag for the Gators. His buyout for the 2024 season would be record-setting for the program, good for 85% of his salary for each year remaining on his contract.
Napier, who emerged as a hot name on the coaching carousel after his work at Louisiana, hasn’t led Florida to a winning season yet, but has the backing of athletic director Scott Stricklin. Napier is 12-16 overall with the Gators.
If Napier’s fired before the end of his contract, language within the deal suggest Florida would owe him 50% of the total money owed within 30 days of termination.
“I’m not a fool,” Napier told ESPN when asked about those who have placed him on the hot seat before the season. “Part of leadership is you’ve got to have some self-awareness, and you have to make tough decisions. You have to make necessary changes. We’ve done that. I have a ton of confidence. This is all just part of the story.”
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Florida takes on Mississippi State in Week 4.
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