So, you're asking about the guy holding the whistle in Gainesville? Honestly, if you haven’t checked the news in a few months, you might still think Billy Napier is the one roaming the sidelines at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He isn't.
Jon Sumrall is the head football coach for the Florida Gators.
He officially took the reins in late 2024, specifically announced on November 30, after a whirlwind coaching search that had Gator Nation biting their nails for weeks. It’s been a wild ride. Napier’s tenure ended mid-season in October 2025 after a frustrating 3-4 start, leaving the program in the hands of interim coach Billy Gonzales for a brief, somewhat forgettable stretch. But now? It’s the Sumrall era.
Who exactly is Jon Sumrall?
If you follow Group of Five football, you know this name. If you don't, you're probably wondering why Florida went with a guy from Tulane.
Basically, the man is a winner. Before landing in Florida, Sumrall pulled off some of the fastest program turnarounds we’ve seen in recent years. At Troy, he went 23-4 over two seasons. Then he moved to Tulane and kept that same energy, leading them to consecutive conference title games.
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He’s 43 years old, full of fire, and—crucially for the Florida faithful—he knows the SEC inside and out. He played linebacker at Kentucky (leading the team in tackles in 2004) and coached at both Ole Miss and Kentucky before his head coaching career took off.
The Drama Behind the Hire: Who is Florida Football Coach Now?
Let’s be real: the search for the new Florida football coach wasn't exactly a quiet affair. For a minute there, everyone thought Lane Kiffin was a lock. The rumors were flying, the flight trackers were active, and the message boards were melting down.
When the Gators pivoted to Sumrall, some fans were skeptical. Why not a "bigger" name? But look at the numbers. Sumrall arrived in Gainesville with a career record of 43-11. That is a .796 winning percentage. To put that in perspective, that’s better than almost anyone currently coaching in the SEC not named Kirby Smart.
Scott Stricklin, the Florida Athletic Director, knew he was on the hot seat. He needed a "home run," but instead of chasing a celebrity, he chased a guy who builds defenses that hit like a freight train. Sumrall’s defenses at Troy and Tulane were notorious for racking up sacks and takeaways. In fact, his teams have forced nearly 100 turnovers since 2022.
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What is Sumrall’s contract like?
Florida didn't just give him the keys; they gave him a massive vault. Here is the gist of the deal:
- Duration: 6-year contract.
- Salary: $7.5 million annually.
- Incentives: Heavy bonuses for making the College Football Playoff (which is the only thing boosters care about at this point).
It’s a serious investment. The school is still paying off a chunk of Napier’s buyout (roughly $20 million), so they are effectively betting the farm on Sumrall’s ability to recruit the "Sunshine State" and fix a locker room that had grown a bit stagnant.
The 2026 Outlook: What to Expect
Walking into the Swamp isn't easy. The 2026 SEC schedule is a gauntlet—Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma—it’s enough to make any coach sweat.
But Sumrall isn't coming alone. He’s already made some massive splashes in the coaching staff department. He brought in Buster Faulkner as Offensive Coordinator and Brad White as Defensive Coordinator. He even snagged Phil Trautwein from Penn State to fix an offensive line that has struggled with consistency for years.
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The most impressive part of his first few months? The transfer portal. Sumrall didn't just wait around. He aggressively targeted veteran depth, landing guys like London Montgomery to bolster the backfield and several key pieces for the secondary. He’s clearly trying to raise the "floor" of the roster before his first spring practice even starts.
Why this hire feels different
Honestly, Florida has been through the ringer. Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen, Napier—it’s been a revolving door of "next big things" that didn't quite stick.
Sumrall feels different because he’s a culture guy. He talks a lot about "toughness" and "discipline," which sounds like coach-speak, but his track record of winning on the road suggests his teams actually listen. He’s 18-2 in road games since 2022. In the SEC, if you can’t win on the road, you’re dead in the water.
What should fans do now?
If you're a Gator fan or just a college football junkie, keep an eye on the spring game. That will be the first real look at the "Sumrall Style."
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Presser: Go back and watch Jon Sumrall’s introductory press conference from December 2025. It gives you a great sense of his personality—he’s intense, but he’s not a "car salesman" type.
- Monitor the Portal: The spring transfer window will be huge. Sumrall has already shown he's a shark in the portal, and he’ll likely look for one more elite pass rusher.
- Check the Recruiting Rankings: Keep an eye on the 2027 class. Sumrall is known for his relationships in the Southeast, and Florida needs to lock down its borders again.
The question of who is Florida football coach is answered, but the question of whether he can return the Gators to the top of the SEC is just beginning to be written. It’s going to be a fascinating 2026 season.