Additional Coverage:
- Florida hires Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as head coach with a six-year, $44.7 million contract (nbcnews.com)
Gators Tap Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as New Head Coach, Amidst Fan Discontent
Gainesville, FL – The University of Florida has officially announced Jon Sumrall, formerly of Tulane, as its next head football coach. The decision, finalized Sunday, sees Sumrall stepping into a six-year, $44.7 million contract, including incentives, averaging $7.45 million annually. This move comes after reports indicated Lane Kiffin opted for LSU over the Gators, positioning Sumrall as the program’s second choice.
Sumrall, 43, will remain with the No. 22 ranked Green Wave through their upcoming American Conference title game and any potential College Football Playoff appearances.
In a complementary move, the Gators are also reportedly close to securing Dave Caldwell, a Super Bowl-winning general manager from his time with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Caldwell, who also spent eight years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is expected to manage Florida’s salary cap and bolster college talent evaluation-critical roles in the era of the burgeoning transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments.
Sumrall brings a strong track record of success, having previously played linebacker at Kentucky (2002-04) before embarking on his coaching career. He led Troy to consecutive Sun Belt championships in two seasons as head coach before achieving similar success at Tulane.
In his two years in New Orleans, Sumrall has compiled a 19-7 record, guiding the Green Wave to the American championship game in both seasons. His impressive four-for-four streak in league title games as a head coach has Gators fans hopeful for an “Urban Meyer 2.0” rather than a “Billy Napier 2.0.”
Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin praised Sumrall’s immediate impact at multiple programs. “Not many coaches win big at two different non-Power programs, and even fewer do it as quickly as Jon has done it,” Stricklin stated.
“He joins rare company – coaches like Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly and Willie Fritz – who’ve delivered immediate success at multiple stops. Jon’s track record of rapid turnarounds speaks directly to his leadership and the culture he establishes.”
Despite the optimistic words from Stricklin, the hiring of Sumrall, another Group of Five coach, is likely to be met with skepticism by some Florida fans, who may view him as a consolation prize following the Kiffin pursuit. Sumrall replaces Billy Napier, who was fired in mid-October after a 22-23 record over four seasons in Gainesville. Napier’s tenure was often criticized, leading to the nickname “Sun Belt Billy” as he struggled to find consistent success in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.
This latest coaching hire intensifies the scrutiny on Athletic Director Scott Stricklin. Already facing considerable pressure, including a website dedicated to his removal and a recent fan rally, Stricklin’s decision to hire another G5 coach, particularly a defensive-minded one, is a bold move. He was notably booed at a championship celebration earlier this year and is now navigating a fan base calling for his job.
However, Stricklin appears to retain the support of the Board of Trustees, who extended his contract in June. This allowed him to conduct a coaching search that reportedly involved around 10 interviews without external interference, despite rumors of booster involvement in the Kiffin negotiations.
The pursuit of Kiffin was extensive, involving scouting trips by his family to Gainesville and Baton Rouge, and meetings with administrators. However, sources familiar with the search indicated Kiffin found the Gainesville trip underwhelming, and high school football in the area did not meet his expectations. Even Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel were involved in the Gators’ attempts to woo Kiffin, but communication eventually dwindled, prompting Florida to move on.
Now, Sumrall faces the challenge of revitalizing a struggling program in the highly competitive SEC. While Tulane’s offensive and defensive rankings (39th in total offense, 64th in total defense) aren’t eye-popping, Sumrall is expected to bring in outside coordinators and an NFL-style general manager to aid in the rebuilding effort.
The Gators (4-8) concluded their dismal season with a strong 40-21 victory over rival Florida State, showcasing potential with running back Jadan Baugh’s career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns, and DJ Lagway’s three passing scores. Sumrall will be tasked with harnessing this talent and returning Florida to national prominence.