Billy Napier’s tenure at Florida might soon come to an end.
The Gators’ head coach could potentially be fired as soon as this weekend, as indicated by a report from USA Today, citing that he likely won’t stay on after yet another loss.
This weekend, Florida State will play against Mississippi State, followed by a crucial rivalry match against Georgia State on November 1.
According to the same report, the Gators’ athletic director, Scott Stricklin, recently met with influential boosters who expressed that their support depends on a shift in the program’s direction.
These boosters are eager—perhaps too eager—to part ways with Napier, and were reportedly prepared to agree to a substantial buyout to let him go during last season’s 8-5 finish.
However, Stricklin managed to persuade them to use their resources to support Napier instead, which included helping the University of Florida secure star receiver Dallas Wilson from his contract at Oregon and keeping other top players from transferring.
Despite this, the boosters had hoped to see a veteran offensive coordinator take over the offensive duties, but that hasn’t happened.
This season started with high hopes for the University of Florida, which was ranked No. 15, but the chance to compete for a national title seems lost already.
The Gators faced defeats against South Florida early on, then lost to LSU and their in-state rival Miami, placing their record at 1-3.
Although there was some excitement following an upset victory over Texas, it was dampened by a recent loss to Texas A&M.
With ranked matchups against three teams still to come—the Bulldogs, Ole Miss, and Tennessee—the Gators might be on track for their third losing season under Napier’s leadership.
He holds a 21-23 record after previously thriving at Louisiana.
Reportedly, Napier’s contract carries a buyout of around $21 million, which is seen as quite steep, especially compared to the $49 million owed to James Franklin by Penn State after his dismissal on Sunday.
According to the publication, there’s a faint hope that Napier can complete the season before a coaching search commences, as Florida continues to face challenges in the aftermath of Urban Meyer’s era.
