Billy Napier hot seat: USA Today names 7 head coach candidates for Florida Gators to consider
If Florida continues to lose, head coach Billy Napier‘s days at the helm of the program are numbered. On Monday, USA Today‘s Blake Toppmeyer released his seven top head coach candidates for the Gators to consider if Florida fires Napier.
The backlash was endless on Saturday after Florida fell 33-21 to Texas A&M — the Gators’ second double-digit loss of the season. Napier failed again to make a decisive choice at quarterback, playing both Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway.
Worse, Florida’s defense couldn’t find an answer for the Aggies, allowing Texas A&M to amass 388 yards. Now staring down one of the most difficult remaining schedules in the country, Napier is dangerously close to leading Florida to his third-straight losing campaign.
Nonetheless, Toppmeyer believes there’s a plethora of other coaching candidates for Florida if Billy Napier can’t get the job done.
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1. Lane Kiffin — HC, Ole Miss
There are few head coaching candidates with more experience than Lane Kiffin. With stops at powerhouse programs such as Tennessee, Alabama, USC and, most recently, Ole Miss, Kiffin is a proven winner.
Kiffin is particularly hailed for his offensive genius, which grows ever more enticing as Florida continues to struggle to move the ball. Kiffin is no stranger to Florida, either. He was the head coach at FAU from 2017-19. However, it’s worth noting Kiffin is under contract with Ole Miss until 2029.
2. Eliah Drinkwitz — HC, Missouri
Eli Drinkwitz made a statement last season, leading Missouri to an 11-2 record. It was by far his best campaign with the Tigers, after failing to lead the program to an above .500 record during his first three seasons at the helm.
Alas, Missouri’s 2023 campaign looks far from a fluke. The Tigers are 3-0 this season and landed at No. 7 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. In December, Missouri and Drinkwitz agreed to a contract extension that lasts through the 2028 season.
3. Jedd Fisch — HC, Washington
While Jedd Fisch is only 48 years old, there’s no denying his track record. With numerous stops along the NFL and collegiate landscape, Fisch boasts rare knowledge. Last season, he used said knowledge to lead Arizona to a 10-3 record and a 7-2 mark in conference play.
For his efforts, Fisch was immediately a top candidate for Washington’s head coach opening after Kalen DeBoer left the program to take over at Alabama. In short order, Fisch and Washington agreed upon a seven-year contract at $7.75 million annually. The Huskies are 2-1 this season.
4. Alex Golesh — HC, South Florida
Alex Golesh doesn’t boast the same résumé as many of the candidates on Toppmeyer’s list. Yet, his proximity to the program and recent success would make him a legitimate option for the Gators.
After serving two record-shattering seasons as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, Golesh accepted an offer to become USF’s head coach. In his debut campaign, Golesh boosted the Bulls to a 7-6 record and their first bowl game appearance since 2018. The team is 2-1 this season.
5. Lance Leipold — HC, Kansas
If Florida is looking for a coach who knows how to turn programs around, there may be no better man for the job than Lance Leipold. The 60-year-old head coach’s first win at Kansas was the program’s first victory in 22 months.
Although Leipold was unable to lead Kansas to immediate success, he gradually rebuilt the program into a legitimate Big 12 contender. Last season, the Jayhawks went 9-4 and 5-4 against conference foes. Kansas entered the 2024 campaign as one of the favorites to win the Big 12 but have had a slow start, only winning one of its first three games.
6. Andy Kotelnicki — OC, Penn State
Perhaps Kansas’ unexpected struggles this season are due to the exit of Andy Kotelnicki. He was instrumental in Leipold’s successful makeover of the program, serving as the Jayhawks’ offensive coordinator from 2021-23.
With so much success, Kotelnicki began to attract the attention of powerhouse suitors, including Penn State. In December, Kotelnicki signed a four-year deal with Penn State worth over $7 million. Through three games this season, the Nittany Lions are averaging 447.5 yards per contest.
7. Jamey Chadwell — HC, Liberty
Jamey Chadwell replaced Hugh Freeze at Liberty after he left the Flames to take over at Auburn. Under Chadwell’s leadership, Liberty not only maintained its reputation as one of the top Group-of-Five programs in the country, it improved it.
In the 2023 campaign, Chadwell led Liberty to a stunning 13-0 record before ultimately falling to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. With the implementation of the 12-team College Football Playoff, there’s a real chance Chadwell could lead Liberty to appearance in the CFP this season.