Florida AD Scott Stricklin releases statement on firing of Billy Napier
By David Wasson
Published:
Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin fired football coach Billy Napier on Sunday, bringing to a close a tenure that saw Napier finish 22-23 with a .489 winning percentage that was the worst among non-interim Gators coaches since 1949.
“Today I met with Coach Napier and informed him that a change in leadership of our football program would best serve the interests of the University of Florida,” Stricklin said in a statement released by the athletic department. “On behalf of Gator Nation, I want to sincerely thank Billy and his family for their tireless commitment to the Florida Gators. Billy built a tremendous culture of accountability and growth among the young men he led each day. His organized and detailed approach had a meaningful impact across all levels of our program.”
Stricklin echoed what Napier often said about big-time college football being about victories – with Florida’s 8-21 record against teams with winning records (15 losses of which were by 10+ points) being a factor in his decision.
“As Coach Napier has often said, this is a results-driven business, and while his influence was positive, it ultimately did not translate into the level of success we expect on the field,” Stricklin said in the release.
Stricklin noted that deciding to part ways with Napier heading into an idle week before Florida’s Nov. 1 game against rival Georgia in Jacksonville was another factor.
“Making this decision during the open date provides our team valuable time to regroup, refocus, and prepare for the challenges ahead,” Stricklin said. “The timing also allows us to conduct a thoughtful, thorough, and well-informed search for our next head coach.”
Stricklin officially announced that wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales will take over the Florida program on an interim basis while he conducts a search for “an elite football coach who will embody the standard we have at the University of Florida.”
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
