Kirby Smart comments on former Florida HC Billy Napier attending Georgia practice

Nearly a month after being let go at Florida, former Gators head coach Billy Napier stopped by Georgia’s football practice on Tuesday in Athens.

The visit, first reported by UGASports’ Anthony Dasher, was confirmed by Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference.

“Billy’s a good friend of mine. We coached together at Alabama for years. I’ve known him a long time,” Smart said. “People don’t understand relationships between coaches. Coaches have a brotherhood and fraternity together. His dad was good friends with my dad… we all grew up in Georgia with our fathers coaching high school football. They were really respected people, and he’s been a friend for a long time. He dropped by Tuesday’s practice, but that was really it.”

Napier, who was fired Oct. 19 after a 3-4 start in his fourth season at Florida, grew up in Chatsworth, Ga., and played quarterback for his late father, Bill Napier, at Murray County High.

Smart, who lost his own father, Sonny, earlier this year, has a long-standing personal connection with Napier, dating back to their time together at Alabama under Nick Saban. Napier served as an offensive analyst in 2011 and later coached receivers from 2013-16, while Smart was Saban’s defensive coordinator from 2007-15.

The Bulldogs, currently No. 5, have their focus on their next SEC matchup, but the visit was a reminder of the tight-knit relationships in the coaching world.

Derek Hryn