Florida names interim head coach after Billy Napier’s firing
By David Wasson
Published:
The Florida Gators have officially tapped wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales as their interim coach to replace Billy Napier, who was fired Sunday after 3+ years in Gainesville.
Gonzales is in his third stint as a Florida coach. He previously served as wide receivers coach under coach Urban Meyer from 2005-07 and added recruiting coordinator to his title from 2008-09. Gonzales returned in 2018-19 to serve under Dan Mullen as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach and then was promoted to passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach from 2020-21.
Napier did not retain any of Mullen’s assistant coach, including Gonzales. The 54-year-old Gonzales, who played wide receiver under Earle Bruce at Colorado State from 1989-92, coached wide receivers for a season at Florida Atlantic in 2022 before returning to Gainesville for a third time when Napier hired him ahead of the 2023 season.
Florida’s offense is ranked 67th nationally in passing offense at 234.9 yards per game, with quarterback DJ Lagway passing for 1,513 yards, 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. The Gators have only scored 157 points this season and are 104th in the nation in scoring offense at 22.4 points per game.
Florida is idle in Week 9. The Gators, who are 1-3 so far this season against Top 25 opponents, next play rival Georgia in Jacksonville on Nov. 1.
Gonzales’ ascension to interim head coach was initially reported by FootballScoop and other outlets.
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.
