Billy Napier announces promotions, new job titles on Gators staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In addition to discussing eight new signees and his latest hires Wednesday, Florida coach Billy Napier revealed multiple promotions and job titles on his staff.

Along with hiring defensive line coach Gerald Chatman, one of three new assistants on defense, Napier has promoted Kali James to assistant defensive line coach. James had served as a graduate assistant coach at UF the past two seasons.

“We’ve promoted Kali James,” Napier said. “He’s the assistant defensive line coach and is going to help us with the hybrid players. It’s a good room, and I think they’re in a good place. They’re excited to work together.”

James spent the two previous seasons (2020-21) as the defensive line coach for Land Christian Academy, and one year (2019) as a defensive line coach intern at South Carolina. 

Napier revealed some changes he’s made in Florida’s personnel department as well, including a promotion for director of player personnel Jacob LaFrance. He also promoted personnel analysts Nick McDonald and Joe Hamilton, now UF’s pro liaison in addition to his recruiting responsibilities.

“Jacob LaFrance is going to kind of take a leadership role and be the general manager,” Napier said. “And then Nick McDonald’s the DPP. Joe Hamilton is going to be the director of scouting and recruiting relations and handle the NFL side.”

Napier also revealed the new role for former director of strength and conditioning Mark Hocke. He’s now the director of player development with the Gators.

“Mark’s going to be in the player development space,” Napier said. “A lot of our leadership development and character education – a lot of the things that we do relative to learning and teaching, we do a number of tests with the rookies when they arrive, take in all that data and all those assessments in helping the coaches in that space.

“Also helping me from a messaging standpoint. Motivation, themes throughout the offseason, throughout the season. Things that he’s really talented at. He’s also going to sit in on offensive and defensive meetings and be a part of the evaluation and recruitment process. It’ll help him as he continues to evolve.”

RELATED: Meet the new hires on Billy Napier’s Florida Gators staff

New hires on Gators staff

Napier replaced Hocke with new director of football performance Craig Fitzgerald, the former head strength and conditioning coach for the New York Giants (2020-23) and Houston Texans (2014-17) who previously worked at Tennessee (2018-19), Penn State (2012-13) and South Carolina (2009-11).

He also hired two new assistant strength coaches in Tevin Geddis and Jake Sankel, who also serves the director of football nutrition. The Gators will begin phase two of their offseason program on Monday.

“We’re fortunate to have the guy,” Napier said of Fitzgerald. “He’s obviously very knowledgeable, he’s got great experience, he’s coached in the National Football League for eight of the last 10 years. He’s revived programs: South Carolina, Tennessee, Penn State. Well-regarded in the space. I think Coach Spurrier, obviously his experience with Fitz in the past, there’s a common connection there. … And his desire to be at the University of Florida. What I was intrigued with, he was excited about being back at the collegiate level and the connection piece, the opportunity for him to actually be involved in the development of a college player and the gratification he gets from that. We got great reviews so far from the players. I think, ultimately, it’s about them having belief in what you’re doing. He’s exceptional. 

“We’ve hired Tevin Geddis, Jake Sankel. Jake Sankel, in my opinion, is really unique in his role. He’s not only the director of nutrition, but he’s also one of the assistant strength coaches. There’s an expertise there that I think has been good for our team. His leadership and experience – I mean, he’s been eight years with the Commanders, really running that whole operation – so he’s bringing a lot to our systems in terms of how we operation in that space as well. We’ve got two experts. I’m a firm believer that’s where the game is headed. I think it’s all about the development piece in terms of the player experience and what we can offer the player. We tried to really invest in that area.”

This offseason, Florida hired Chatman, secondary coach Will Harris and linebackers coach Ron Roberts, who will serve as the executive head coach and co-defensive coordinator with DC Austin Armstrong continuing to call plays. Armstrong worked under Roberts as a graduate assistant at Louisiana when he was Napier’s DC.

“Austin and him, there’s a mentor-type relationship there. And a ton of respect, mutual respect on both sides,” Napier said of Roberts. “Austin obviously is the coordinator, calls the plays and runs the unit meetings, but we’re getting a guy who can coach the coaches, who can improve the installation, the gameplans, really get the best on that side of the ball essentially. He’s the head coach of the defense to some degree. So, I think the coordinator-relationship there … those guys are, they’re loving life right now. They’re both ball guys. And we’ve got Mike Peterson in that room, Will Harris in that room, Gerald Chatman in that room.

“We went through a very extensive process to land where we landed with Will Harris and Gerald Chatman, both of which I think have proven to be what we thought they were — really good teachers. I think they’ve got character. I do think they have a passion for people, they care for the player independent of the game. Great families and pedigree. They’ve been around good coaching; they know what it looks like. They’ve coached at the highest level and coached at the Power Five level. I think they’ve done a good job connected with the staff and the players so far.”