Billy Napier buyout: How much it would cost for Florida to fire its head coach
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History always repeats itself. In 2024, Florida head coach Billy Napier found himself on the hot seat after a disappointing home loss to an in-state foe. Now, just over 1 year later, he’s back in the same boat.
Napier’s Gators absorbed their first loss of the season on Saturday. Unfortunately for Napier, the 18-16 defeat versus South Florida — of the American Athletic Conference — may be even worse than last season’s 41-17 beatdown against Miami. There weren’t the highest of expectations in Gainesville a year ago, but analysts believed this team would compete for the College Football Playoff. Tonight’s result doesn’t outright eliminate Florida, of course, but certainly dampens the optimism ahead of a daunting SEC slate.
Napier’s performance over the back half of the 2024 slate ultimately saved his job. He’s now going to have to pull off a similar magic act this season. If he can’t, he’s set to be rich — but unemployed — in short order.
According to Zach Abolverdi of the Gainesville Sun, Napier will be owed 85% of his total remaining compensation if fired without cause by the Gators. Assuming the decision comes at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Napier would have $22.8 million left on his contract. That puts his buyout at a whopping $19.35 million. And he’d receive a healthy chunk of it quickly, per Abolverdi:
- “[The buyout will have] 50 percent paid within 30 days of termination [and] the remainder paid in equal installments (12.5%) over four years, with the first installment paid on the first July 15th following such termination and each July 15 thereafter until paid in full.”
Napier surely would rather be successful on the sidelines than paid handsomely to leave them. But if he can’t right the ship sooner than later, he’ll be the former without a say in the matter. Florida travels to No. 3 LSU next week (7:30 p.m. E.T. on ABC).
