Why Katie Turner left the national champions to join Billy Napier's staff

Katie Turner’s career goals have not only included ascending in her field, but doing so with people she loves. 

Turner began her career in Alabama’s recruiting department as a student from 2013-16, where she worked under Candice Rosenkranz. 

“I didn’t know that a job like this was possible until I saw a female in my position who had it at Alabama and she’s still one of my mentors to this day,” Turner said of Rosenkranz, who now works with CAA. “I saw her doing it and I just thought that is such a cool job because I love people, and I love football. And the fact that you can combine those two and really help build something special with the football program, it just seems like a dream come true.”

So did the idea of building that special something at a new football program with the people she came up with at Alabama. She formed close relationships with several members of Nick Saban’s staff during her time in Tuscaloosa. 

“Keary Colbert, he was an analyst at Alabama when I was a student,” Turner said. “Coach [Mark] Hocke, we worked at UL together, but him and I were at Bama at the same time too. 

“I think like, it’s always been our goal to get to a University of this caliber with Coach Napier because we believe in him and we trust him.”

That opportunity would present itself when Napier was hired as Florida’s coach in late November. After four successful years at Louisiana with an army of former Alabama staffers, including Turner, Napier was looking to get the gang back together in Gainesville. 

And he wanted Turner on his team. 

“When coach Napier called me,” Turner said, “and was like, ‘I would love for you to come join,’ I was so anxious. Because now I have to make a decision and I hate disappointing people.”

Namely, Georgia coach Kirby Smart. Like Napier, Smart was on Saban’s staff during Turner’s stint and also had a strong relationship with her. After she spent three years at Louisiana as director of football on-campus recruiting, Smart hired Turner as UGA’s director of recruiting operations in 2020.

“As much as I believe in myself, I wouldn’t be here without people like Coach Napier and honestly — I know Florida isn’t gonna want to hear me talk about Georgia — Coach Smart and just all these different people from my past who really just believed in me and saw something in me.”

Katie Turner goes with her gut

Turner’s past came to a crossroads with that phone call from Napier, and she now had to decide on her future. She immediately reached out to Smart, who was on the road recruiting, to tell him she had received a job offer from Florida. 

Turner needed time to think about it, she said, and also felt she owed it to Smart to finish out the early signing period with Georgia. But as Dec. 15 approached, Turner had “some very sleepless nights” with her own decision looming. 

And like those high school prospects, she was also getting recruited. 

“I definitely had some of the wives calling me. I was like, ‘This is unfair! This is an unfair recruiting advantage.’ Courtney [Patrick Toney’s wife] is calling. Like c’mon,” said Turner, who introduced Courtney and Patrick at Louisiana. 

The chance to rekindle those relationships and reunite with Napier in Gainesville was enticing for Turner, but that meant leaving a national championship team for a rebuilding project. 

Whether she stayed at Georgia or left for Florida, she was letting someone down no matter what. 

“I’ve known Billy since I was in college, I’ve known Kirby since I was in college and I love both of them so much that it was just so hard,” Turner said. “We had built something so special (at UGA). We’re about to go to the national championship. I did not sleep. But it was really tough.

“Finally when that time came, I just kind of prayed very hard about it and I had to go with my gut. … I just really think this was my next mission.” 

Breaking the news to Smart was one of the most difficult conversations she’s ever had.

“Telling Kirby was tough. I cried for sure. I have no shame in admitting that because it’s emotional,” Turner said. “I was like, ‘I’m sorry, this is an emotional decision.’

“He’s laughing and it was just funny. But that’s my guy. I texted him after the national championship and they’re sending me a ring.”

Turner is now trying to deliver one to the Gators, who haven’t won an SEC title or national championship since 2008. She was announced as Florida’s assistant athletic director of recruiting strategy the day after the early signing period and helped Florida finish with a top-20 class. 

However, her new role at UF doesn’t just involve recruiting. Turner also oversees social media and the program’s strategy behind that. 

That factored into her decision to join Napier’s staff as well. 

“At the end of the day, I knew that this was going to be a little bit of a step up, a little more responsibility. And I was excited,” Turner said. “I’m not just overseeing recruiting, I also get to oversee social media. Because I think social media and recruiting go hand in hand, just with your brand and getting everything out there the right way. 

“That was an exciting opportunity. So being able to oversee on-campus visits as well as that was just something that I’ve really always wanted to do. … So anyway, I prayed about it. Like I said, it doesn’t hurt that I’m back with a family and an awesome friend group.”