Billy Napier - Football Coach (2024)

Billy Napier enters his thirdseason with the Gators after being named the 29th head coach in program history on Nov. 28, 2021.

During his first year at Florida, Napier established a new culture that emphasizes teamwork, toughness and discipline, setting a sturdy foundation for the future of Florida Football.

It didn’t take long for Florida’s culture shift to become evident. The Gators finished the 2022 regular season ranked fourth in the SEC in total penalty yards (584) and penalty yards per game (48.7), and eighth in total penalties (78). Napier’s emphasis in playing disciplined football translated into a distinctive improvement from the 2021 season when the Gators ranked 13th in the conference with 104 penalties.

The turnover battle was another area where the Gators saw improvement in 2022. Florida finished ranked tied for eighth in the nation in turnover margin (8), giving up the football only 14 times while producing 22 takeaways during the regular season. The Gators outscored their opponents 70-42 points off turnovers during the 2022 campaign.

Florida’s rushing attack took the nation by storm during Napier’s first year at the helm. The Gators finished the 2022 regular season as the third-most productive offense in the nation and best in the conference in yards per carry (5.84). Florida ran the ball for an average of 213.7 yards per game in 2022, which ranked 16th in the FBS and third in the SEC.

At the forefront of the Florida’s mighty ground offense was the running back duo formed by freshman Trevor Etienne and Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson Jr, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 120.0 rushing yards per game, while combining for a touchdown in all 12 regular season games and scoring 17 total touchdowns. They were one of only 15 RB duos in the FBS to rush for over 700 yards apiece in 2022.

Johnson Jr. finished the 2022 campaign ranked tied-for-fourth in the SEC in rushing touchdowns (10) and became the first UF running back to rush for over 800 yards since La’Mical Perine in 2018. Meanwhile, Etienne ranked fourth in yards per carry (6.1), tied for 10th in touchdowns (six) and eighth in rushing yards (719) in the FBS among true freshmen.

The efficiency by Florida's running offense reflected an offensive line that allowed only 13 sacks in the regular season, ranking tied for second-fewest in the SEC and 16th in the FBS.

The offensive line was anchored by Louisiana transfer O’Cyrus Torrence, who finished as the top-rated guard in the nation at 88.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

Torrence became first Gators offensive guard to be named a Consensus All-American, and the fifth lineman in Florida history. He was named a First Team All-American by Sporting News, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp, and to the second team by the Football Writers Association of America. He was also named to the AP All-SEC First Team.

Torrence, who Napier recruited out of high school to play at UL, never allowed a QB hit or sack in 3,065 career snaps, including zero QB hurries or penalties in 698 snaps and 11 games started with the Gators in 2022.

Napier played a key role in the development of Anthony Richardson into the one of the hottest quarterbacks in college football. Richardson, who was ultimately drafted fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, finished the 2022 season ranked fifth in the FBS among qualified quarterbacks in yards per carry (6.3) and was the only quarterback with two 400-yard games and two 100-yard rushing games in the season. Additionally, he was one of only five FBS players with over 2,500 passing yards and 650 rushing yards in 2022.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Gators continued their long-term defensive trends under Napier.

The Gators rank fifth nationally in interceptions with 409 and lead the SEC since 1996, while holding opponents to a 54.0 passing completion percentage, which is the seventh-lowest in the FBS and third in the SEC in that that span.

The Gators recorded an interception in six games during Napier’s first season, the first of which secured a victory against No. 7 Utah—Napier’s first game a Florida’s head coach, to make him the only Florida head coach to defeat a ranked opponent in his first game.

Napier’s emphasis on a new culture also became evident in the classroom. The Gators set a new Southeastern Conference record with 62 UF football players placing in the 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. The team also set a squad record with a 3.30 team GPA for the 2023 Spring semester.

In spite of a 6-7 record during Napier’s first season at the helm, UF outscored its opponents 29.5-to-28.8 points per game and a total of 384 to 375. Florida lost their six regular-season games by a total of only 61 combined points. Five of those games were lost by 10 points or less and three by only one score.

During his first season as Florida’s head coach, Napier delivered a total 10 Gators to the NFL via the NFL Draft and free agency. Drafted were QB Anthony Richardson (Rnd. 1, Pick 4, Indianapolis), DT Gervon Dexter (Rnd. 2, Pick 22, Chicago), OL O’Cyrus Torrence (Rnd. 2, Pick 28, Buffalo), LB Ventrell Miller (Rnd. 4, Pick 19, Jacksonville), WR Justin Shorter (Rnd. 5, Pick 15, Buffalo) and LB Amari Burney (Rnd. 6, Pick 26, Las Vegas). The six picks were tied for fourth highest by a school that year and tied third in the SEC. Additionally, four other Gators were tabbed as undrafted free agents.

Louisiana(2018-21)

Napier spent four seasons at Louisiana, and finished with a record of 40-12, a perfect 16-0 mark against members of the Sun Belt West Division, four consecutive West Division titles, four straight bowl appearances, a share of the Sun Belt title in 2020 and as the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Champions.

A two-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year (2019 & 2021), Napier took the Ragin' Cajuns to unprecedented heights when the team broke into the national rankings in 2020 for the first time in the modern era. The team finished the campaign ranked No. 15 in the AP Top-25, No. 16 in the USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the College Football Playoff, Louisiana's highest rankings in all three polls.

In 2021, he led the program to their first conference championship title since 2005 and only the second time in program history. Napier concluded his final season with a 12-1 record, the most single-season wins in school history after setting it with 11 in his second year. The 12 straight wins also set the program record for consecutive victories, as the previous record was eight in 1976.

Napier led Louisiana to its fourth straight Sun Belt Conference Championship game with a 24-16 victory over Appalachian State to finish with a career record of 28-7 against conference opponents. Louisiana became the first team in conference history to make all four conference championship games.

Napier’s Louisiana team produced two 2022 NFL Draft picks in safety Percy Butler and tackle Max Mitchell, who were both drafted in the fourth round by the Washington Commanders and the New York Jets, respectively.

The 2020 Louisiana Sports Writer Association Coach of the Year, Napier navigated Louisiana through a season heavily impacted by COVID-19 and claimed a share of the Sun Belt Conference Championship, its third-straight West Division title and its second-straight bowl victory, a 31-24 win over UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. The Ragin’ Cajuns also advanced to its third consecutive Sun Belt Championship game, but was canceled due to COVID-19.

Napier's team broke into the national rankings for the first time in the modern era following its week one upset at No. 23 Iowa State, marking the first win over a ranked opponent on the road and only the second time in program history. He concluded non-conference matchups at Louisiana with a record of 13-5, as three of the losses came against ranked opponents - No. 1 Alabama, No. 16 Mississippi State and No. 19 Texas.

Both the offense and defense continued to flourish in 2020 under Napier’s watch. Offensively, the team ranked 29th nationally in scoring offense (33.6) and 43rd nationally in total offense (421.5), while the defense ranked 31st in scoring defense (22.0) and 33rd in total defense (355.4).

Napier coached Louisiana to 14 Sun Belt All-Conference selections, led by First Team selections Elijah Mitchell and Chris Smith. Mitchell wrapped up his stellar career ranking fifth in career scoring (276), fifth in career rushing touchdowns (41) and sixth in career rushing yards (3,267) before being drafted in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers.

Smith additionally earned First Team All-America honors from CBSSports/247Sports, Pro Football Focus and Second Team All-America honors from the FWAA, marking the second consecutive season that a Ragin’ Cajun earned All-America honors under Napier.

In just the second season (2019) under Napier, the program set the all-time single season victories (11) at the time and second-straight trip to the Sun Belt Championship Game after clinching the league's West Division title with a 53-3 victory over Troy. The 11 victories also marked the first double-digit win season in program history and the first of three consecutive 10-plus win years by Napier. He was voted the program’s first Sun Belt Coach of the Year, becoming the third Louisiana coach to earn the distinction of top coach and the first since 1993 in their respective conference.

Napier coached three 2020 NFL Draft picks in Raymond Calais (RB), Kevin Dotson (G) and Robert Hunt (G), tying the program record for draft selections in a year. Hunt became the third-highest pick in team history as he was selected 39th overall by the Miami Dolphins. A First Team All-American selection by the Associated Press, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and a Second Team All-American by Sporting News, Dotson was drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Calais was tabbed by the reigning Super Bowl Champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round.

In Napier's first season at the helm, the Ragin’ Cajuns (7-7, 5-3) won the 2018 Sun Belt Conference West Division Championship, advancing to the inaugural conference championship game. Louisiana accepted an invitation to the AutoNation Cure Bowl, its first bowl trip since 2016.

Arizona State (2017)

Prior to his stint at Louisiana, Napier was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arizona State in 2017.

Napier guided the Sun Devils’ offense to the 14th highest-graded offense in the FBS according to Pro Football Focus - including the 10th highest-graded passing attack in the nation. ASU was ranked 54th in the nation in total offense last season and 86th in the passing game the season prior. The offensive turnaround (+40 positions) was the eighth-largest in the FBS and ASU was one of just three programs to move from outside the Top-50 to inside of it in just one season. The 76-spot swing in the passing game rankings was the third highest in all of the FBS.

ASU developed one of the elite red zone scoring teams in the nation under Napier, tied for first nationally in converting on 95.83 percent of its red zone appearances (46-of-48) with the only two “blemishes” against the Sun Devils coming when the team took a knee late in the fourth quarter. ASU was 11th nationally in red zone touchdown scoring rate with 36 touchdowns on those 48 attempts (75.00).

Ball security was another notable facet of Napier’s offense. The Sun Devils turned the ball over just 11 times in 2017, which ranked 12th nationally after finishing 82nd in the country a year ago with 21 turnovers.

Alabama (2011, 2013-16)

Napier’s first experience in the SEC came at Alabama in 2011 and he later returned to Crimson Tide from 2013-17 as the wide receivers coach.

He was instrumental in helping Nick Saban and Alabama achieve a 63-7 record in five seasons (2011, 2013-2016), two National Championships (2011 & 2015) and was part of the great run of 26 consecutive wins from 2015-2016. In 70 games at Alabama, the Crimson Tide offense averaged 6.27 yards per play and 36.4 points per game. Napier coached three first round draft picks in Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Amari Copper and Calvin Ridley while in Tuscaloosa.

In 2016, Napier’s wide receiver corps were led by junior ArDarius Stewart, a third-round pick by the New York Jets in 2017 and Ridley. Stewart snagged in a team-leading eight touchdowns and 864 yards while Ridley totaled a team-high 72 receptions. Napier also helped develop wide outs Gehrig Dieter (Kansas City) and Cam Sims (Washington), both who were NFL free agent signees.

After recruiting Ridley to sign with the Crimson Tide, Napier coached him to a freshman-record and team-leading 89 catches for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015 along with being named a USA Today Freshman All-American.

Napier played a vital role in Cooper’s historical campaign in the 2014 season. He became Alabama’s first Biletnikoff Award winner and caught a school- and SEC-record 124 passes for a UA-record 1,727 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Cooper led the country in receptions (124), was second nationally in receiving yards (1,727), receiving touchdowns (16) and catches per game (8.9) while ranking third in yards per game (123.4). A Heisman Trophy finalist and unanimous first team All-American, Cooper smashed all of the Tide’s career receiving marks with 228 receptions, 3,463 yards and tied the SEC record with 31 receiving touchdowns.

In his first season as the Crimson Tide’s receivers coach in 2013, Napier built a deep and talented group of wide outs. Alabama had four players with at least 32 receptions, led by Cooper’s 45 catches for 736 yards.

The 2011 season marked the first year for Napier on the Alabama staff as he served as an offensive analyst, helping the Crimson Tide win the 2011 BCS national championship. The Tide ranked 16th in scoring offense, 30th in total offense and 17th in rushing offense in 2011.

Colorado State (2012)

After a year at Alabama, Napier served as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach at Colorado State in 2012 for former Florida head coach Jim McElwain.

Injuries forced Napier to go deep down the bench looking for quarterbacks during his one season in Fort Collins. The Rams saw three quarterbacks play significant snaps as the starter with Garrett Grayson going down early in the season and M.J. McPeek followed two weeks later, forcing redshirt freshman Conner Smith into action. The trio combined to throw for 2,520 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2012 as Colorado State won three of its final five games.

Clemson (2003-04, 2006-10)

Before his first stretch at Alabama, Napier spent seven years in two different stints at Clemson. During Napier’s final two seasons at Clemson he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

At the age of 29, he became the youngest coordinator in the nation and in Clemson history. In his first season as Clemson’s coordinator, the 2009 Tigers scored a school-record 436 points and collected 54 touchdowns (third-most in school history), averaged 5.73 yards per play (fourth best) and finished as the ACC Atlantic Division champions. Quarterback Kyle Parker was named a Freshman All-American and nine players Napier coached from 2009-10 went on to have careers in the NFL.

He also served as Clemson’s recruiting coordinator from 2006-08. In those three seasons, he compiled two top-25 recruiting classes, according to Rivals.com, and in 2008, his class was tabbed as the second-best in the nation by ESPN.com. Known to his peers as a top recruiter, Napier signed several players who went on to the NFL, including Kavell Conner, Crezdon Butler, Brandon Thompson and Marcus Gilchrist.

Napier was the 2007-08 tight ends coach at Clemson, helping lead the Tigers to two bowl games and a prolific offense.
The 2007 season featured a 9-4 record and the ACC’s highest-scoring offense. In his first year back with Clemson (2006), Napier worked primarily with the Tigers’ tight ends but also was responsible for the punt team and assisted in several special-teams capacities. The 2006 Tigers led the ACC in total offense, rushing and scoring offense, advancing to the Music City Bowl.

Clemson averaged 410.9 yards per game and 32.7 points, more than doubling its opponent’s totals. Tight end Hunter Thomas started all 11 games for the Tigers, averaging 19.1 yards per reception. Michael Palmer, who Napier coached for three seasons, went on to the NFL. He also worked with the special teams units, helping develop the 2009 ACC Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American, C.J. Spiller.

He began his coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson in 2003-04. The Tigers won nine games, including the Peach Bowl against Tennessee. The following season, Napier was a graduate assistant on defense, and gained his first experience with recruiting off the field.

Background

As a player, Napier was a four-year letterwinner and two-time All-Southern Conference selection as the starting quarterback at Furman. The Paladins won two conference championships and in 2001, Napier’s junior year, advanced to the Division I-AA national championship game, losing to Montana.

He completed 64.8-percent of his career passes, setting a school record. As the team captain during a record-setting senior season, Napier amassed 2,475 passing yards, also a Furman record, and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the nation’s most outstanding FCS offensive player.

Napier grew up in Chatsworth, Georgia, and graduated from Murray County High School in 1998. He is married to the former Ali Gunn and the couple has a daughter, Annie, and sons, Sammy Nelson and Charlie. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in health & exercise science from Furman in 2002.