After 30 games: How Billy Napier compares to 4 previous Gators coaches
Entering Saturday night’s game against No. 8 Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, Billy Napier has coached the Florida Gators for 30 games. Today, we’ve compared his numbers to those of the program’s previous four head coaches at the same juncture of their stints in Gainesville.
Of course, not every situation has been the same.
Some of these men inherited better rosters than others. Some coached when Florida’s rivals were strong. Others coached when they were not. Today, there’s a transfer portal. For much of the time covered in this article, there wasn’t. So context does matter.
In any event, here’s a 30-game snapshot for Napier and his immediate predecessors — Dan Mullen, Jim McElwain, Will Muschamp and Urban Meyer — which covers the past 20 years of Florida Gators football.
Record after 30 games with the Gators
Billy Napier: 14–16
Dan Mullen: 24-6 (finished 34–15; was fired 11 games into Year 4 — 2021)
Jim McElwain: 21-9 (finished 22–12; was fired seven games into Year 3 — 2017)
Will Muschamp: 21-9 (finished 28–21; was fired in Year 4 — 2014)
Urban Meyer: 26-4 (65–15; resigned after Year 6 — 2010)
Best AP national rankings finish
Billy Napier: Has not been ranked at season’s end.
Dan Mullen: No. 6
Jim McElwain: No. 14
Will Muschamp: No. 9
Urban Meyer: No. 1
Best SEC finish (AFTTER 30 GAMES COACHED AT UF)
Billy Napier: T–4th (East)
Dan Mullen: 2nd (East) — note: Mullen won SEC East in Year 3
Jim McElwain: 1st (East; 2 times)
Will Muschamp: T–1st (East)
Urban Meyer: Champion
Record in SEC games
Billy Napier: 7–11
Dan Mullen: 14-6
Jim McElwain: 15-5
Will Muschamp: 12-6
Urban Meyer: 14-4
Record against all ranked FBS teams
Billy Napier: 2-11
Dan Mullen: 5-4
Jim McElwain: 4-8
Will Muschamp: 4-7
Urban Meyer: 10-3
Record against all unranked FBS teams
Billy Napier: 9-5
Dan Mullen: 15-2
Jim McElwain: 17-1
Will Muschamp: 15-2
Urban Meyer: 14-1
Top 10
- 1Live
Alabama escapes
Tide survives wild finish vs. Cocks
- 2
Saban slams flops
Nick Saban calls for fake injury penalty
- 3New
Jordan Burch status
Injury report on Oregon star defender
- 4
College GameDay Picks
CGD crew Red River clean sweep
- 5
Sydney Sweeney reacts
Oregon Duck shoots his shot
Record against ranked teams at home
Billy Napier: 2-3
Dan Mullen: 2-0
Jim McElwain: 2-1
Will Muschamp: 2-1
Urban Meyer: 4-0
Record against ranked teams on the road
Billy Napier: 0-5
Dan Mullen: 1-2
Jim McElwain: 1-3
Will Muschamp: 2-3
Urban Meyer: 1-3
Home record
Billy Napier: 11-6
Dan Mullen: 13-2
Jim McElwain: 12-1
Will Muschamp: 14-2
Urban Meyer: 16-0
Road record
Billy Napier: 3-7
Dan Mullen: 8-2
Jim McElwain: 6-4
Will Muschamp: 6-4
Urban Meyer: 5-4
Record vs. rivals
Billy Napier: 1-8 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)
Dan Mullen: 6-3 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)
Jim McElwain: 5-4 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee)
Will Muschamp: 5-5 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Tennessee)
Urban Meyer: 8-1 (FSU, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee)
UF’s record in the season prior to each coach’s arrival in Gainesville
Napier: 6-7
Mullen: 4–7
McElwain: 7–5
Muschamp: 8–5
Meyer: 7–5
![Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) hauls in a pass while taking balls from a throwing machine during University of Florida Gators’ Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 28, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/01212103/Untitled-design-80.png)
![A touchdown is celebrated with fireworks in the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 17, 2022. [Cyndi Chambers/Gainesville Sun] Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Usf Bulls](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2023/08/27214921/Untitled-design-4-4.png)
