The Florida Gators have made it official. The team has named the 31st head football coach in school history.
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The team confirmed the reports on Sunday with a press release announcing that Jon Sumrall will take over as head coach in 2026 and beyond after signing a multi-year deal.
Sumrall will first close out the season at Tulane, which includes the American Athletic Conference Championship Game on Dec. 5. Tulane could also compete in the College Football Playoffs.
Sumrall will replace Billy Napier, who the Gators fired in October after just over three seasons and a 22-23 overall record.
Welcome home, Coach.
ℹ️ https://t.co/zruvLIjJMP pic.twitter.com/KJxsKjLOvo
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 30, 2025
Sumrall, a former Kentucky player, started his head coaching career in 2022 at Troy. He led the team to a 12-2 record, which included a bowl game win. One year later, he led Troy to an 11-2 record.
Sumrall moved to Tulane in 2024. He kicked off his tenure by leading the team to a 9-5 record. Tulane has a 10-2 record this season and an opportunity to lock up a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
"The University of Florida is one of the premier programs in college football, and it's an incredible honor to serve as the head football coach," Sumrall said in a press release.
"I believe in building a team rooted in toughness, accountability and a relentless competitive spirit. Florida has everything necessary to compete at the highest level—the resources, the support, the tradition and the passion of Gator Nation. My family and I are excited to get to work.
"One of my first priorities will be to assemble an incredible staff, including an offensive coordinator who understands that, at Florida, having an explosive offense isn't optional - it's mandatory!"
The Gators have sought the next great head coach since then two-time national champion Urban Meyer stepped down in 2010 due to health concerns. The team has won numerous games with multiple head coaches but has fallen short of those championship expectations.
Will Muschamp lasted nearly four full seasons while posting a record of 28-21 (2-1 in bowl games). Jim McElwain followed, but the school fired him midway through his third season. He ended his tenure with a 22-12 record (1-1 in bowl games).
The Gators then turned to Dan Mullen, who posted a 34-15 record (2-1 in bowl games) before his tenure ended. This led to the hiring of Napier.
Now, the program will turn the page with the addition of Sumrall. The Gators will look forward to the 2026 season and an opportunity to potentially compete in the top-heavy SEC.
"What a special day for Gator Nation," Meyer said about the Sumrall hiring. "Jon is one of the top young coaches in the game.
"I've studied Coach Sumrall and have gotten to spend some time with him. His teams are tough, physical and he creates a competitive environment. I look forward to getting to know him even more and the special things he will do at Florida."
