Billy Napier
{{short description|American football coach (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Billy Napier
| image = 2024-1220 Gasparilla Bowl Billy Napier.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Napier after the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = Florida
| current_conference = SEC
| current_record = 19–19
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|7|21}}
| birth_place = Cookeville, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| player_years1 = 1999–2002
| player_team1 = Furman
| player_positions = Quarterback
| coach_years1 = 2003–2004
| coach_years2 = 2005
| coach_team2 = South Carolina State (QB)
| coach_years3 = 2006–2008
| coach_team3 = Clemson (TE/RC)
| coach_years4 = 2009–2010
| coach_team4 = Clemson (OC/QB)
| coach_years5 = 2011
| coach_team5 = Alabama (analyst)
| coach_years6 = 2012
| coach_team6 = Colorado State (AHC/QB)
| coach_years7 = 2013–2016
| coach_team7 = Alabama (WR)
| coach_years8 = 2017
| coach_team8 = Arizona State (OC/QB)
| coach_years9 = 2018–2021
| coach_team9 = Louisiana
| coach_years10 = 2022–present
| coach_team10 = Florida
| overall_record = 59–31
| bowl_record = 3–2
| tournament_record =
| championships = ;As a head coach
2 Sun Belt (2020–2021)
4 Sun Belt West Division (2018–2021)
;As an assistant coach
2 National (2011, 2015)
3 SEC (2014–2016)
3 SEC Western Division (2013–2016)
| awards = 2× Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2019, 2021)
| coaching_records =
}}
William Hall Napier (born July 21, 1979){{Cite book |url=http://eweb.furman.edu/athletics/football/seasons/2000/mathews-wright.pdf |title=2000 Furman Football |publisher=Furman University |year=2000 |pages=23–24 |access-date=September 26, 2020}} is an American football coach currently serving as head coach at the University of Florida. From 2017 until 2021, he was head coach at the University of Louisiana, amassing a 40–12 record in four seasons with three consecutive 10+ win seasons and two seasons finishing in the AP Poll, both firsts in the program's history. Prior to Louisiana, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arizona State University in 2017.
Playing career
Born in Cookeville, Tennessee, Napier was a standout wide receiver before switching to quarterback for Murray County High School in his hometown of Chatsworth, Georgia, where he played for his father who was his head coach. He was named All-State in 1997 and accepted a scholarship to play football at Furman University.{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Chatsworth native Napier named head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette |url=https://www.dailycitizen.news/sports/local_sports/chatsworth-native-napier-named-head-coach-at-louisiana-lafayette/article_1678386e-738b-5fb7-b882-6b24550c928e.html |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=The Daily Citizen |language=en}} During his time with the Furman Paladins, Napier was a four-time letterman, and took over the starting quarterback duties for his junior and senior seasons. The Paladins won two conference championships during Napier's time there, and he was selected to two All-Southern Conference teams at quarterback.{{Cite web |last1=Peloquin |first1=Steve |last2=Walker |first2=Jay |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Getting To Know The New UL Football Coach |url=https://1033thegoat.com/getting-to-know-possible-ul-football-coach-billy-napier/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=103.3 The G.O.A.T. |language=en}}
In his junior year, he led his team to the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, losing to Montana, 13–6.{{Cite news |date=December 22, 2001 |title=Grizzlies 13, Furman 6 (box score) |page=4S |work=Great Falls Tribune |location=Great Falls, Montana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28078614/grizzlies_13_furman_6_box_score/ |access-date=February 5, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}} He earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors in 2001 and 2002. Napier was college teammates with NEEDTOBREATHE vocalist Bear Rinehart from 1999-2002; the pair set numerous team records together.[http://eweb.furman.edu/athletics/football/seasons/2001/%2701pressreleases/NationalChampionship.pdf Press release] furman.edu{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2002 |title=Johnson and Zobel Tabbed First Team All-SoCon by the Media |url=https://citadelsports.com/news/2002/12/3/12_3_2002_3287.aspx |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=The Citadel Athletics |language=en}}
Coaching career
=Assistant coaching=
==Early coaching career (Clemson, SC State)==
After graduating from Furman, Napier headed to Clemson as a graduate assistant. Following a two-year stint as a GA at Clemson, he was then hired as the QB coach at South Carolina State in 2004. After only one year with SC State, Napier chose to return to Clemson when he accepted a job with dual roles as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator on Tommy Bowden's staff. In his third year as TE coach and recruiting coordinator, Tommy Bowden resigned midseason after early season struggles that failed to meet high expectations, and Napier gave up his roles as RC and TE coach when he was named QB coach by newly appointed interim head coach Dabo Swinney. His new role also included assisting Swinney with the playcalling duties for the remainder of the year.{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2008 |title=Swinney Announces Staff Changes |url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=205521699&SPID=103701&SPSID=657769 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192947/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=205521699&SPID=103701&SPSID=657769 |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |website=Clemson Tigers}}
When Swinney was promoted from interim head coach to full-time head coach after the 2008 season, Napier was promoted to offensive coordinator while retaining his duties as QB coach.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2009 |title=Swinney Announces Football Staff Assignments for 2009 |url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=205525803&SPID=103701&SPSID=657769 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321193016/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=205525803&SPID=103701&SPSID=657769 |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |website=Clemson Tigers}} After a 2009 season where Clemson would go on to win the ACC Atlantic Division behind the strength of Napier's offense that scored a then school record 436 points,{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Dan |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Former Alabama, Clemson assistant Billy Napier to take helm as Ragin' Cajuns football coach |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/sports/ul_lafayette/former-alabama-clemson-assistant-billy-napier-to-take-helm-as-ragin-cajuns-football-coach/article_88a67e56-e1c2-11e7-b10e-0bbb17c00098.html |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=The Advocate |language=en}}
==Alabama, Colorado State, Florida State, and Arizona State==
A steep reduction in Clemson's offensive output led to Napier's termination at the end of the 2010 season.{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2011 |title=Napier and Powell Will Not Return to Clemson Coaching Staff |url=http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=205523412&SPID=103701&SPSID=657769 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321193158/http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=28500&ATCLID=205523412&SPID=103701&SPSID=657769 |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |access-date=March 21, 2018 |website=Clemson Tigers}} Within only a few weeks of being dismissed as OC at Clemson, Napier was contacted by Nick Saban from Alabama and offered a job as an offensive analyst. After spending the 2011 season as an analyst on Saban's staff, Napier earned a championship ring following Alabama's win over LSU in the BCS National Championship Game. As a result of his experience under Saban during the 2011 season as well as the time spent working closely with fellow Alabama assistant Jim McElwain, Napier was able to get back into hands-on coaching by following McElwain to Colorado State to become the QB coach and assistant head coach. Napier did not stay in Colorado for long—he was hired in January 2013 by Jimbo Fisher, then head coach at Florida State, to be the team's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, but departed less than a month later as Saban brought him back to Tuscaloosa to take over from Mike Groh as WR coach going into the 2013 season.{{Cite web |last=Nohe |first=Patrik |date=January 15, 2013 |title=Seminoles Finalize 2013 Coaching Staff, Add Napier, Sanders |url=https://miamiherald.typepad.com/florida-state/2013/01/seminoles-finalize-2013-coaching-staff-add-napier-sanders.html |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=Miami Herald}}{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2013 |title=FSU football loses seventh assistant |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/fsu-football-loses-seventh-assistant/1276147/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
After a four-year stint as Alabama's WR coach including a second national championship in January 2016, he was hired by Todd Graham to become offensive coordinator at Arizona State.{{Cite web |last=Wolken |first=Dan |date=January 28, 2017 |title=Arizona State hires Alabama receivers coach Billy Napier as offensive coordinator |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/01/28/arizona-state-football-billy-napier-offensive-coordinator-alabama/97206252/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=USA Today}} In Napier's first season back at OC since being fired as Clemson's OC back in 2010, his offense led Arizona State to finish with a 7–5 record and a Sun Bowl trip. Arizona State fired head coach Todd Graham after the 2017 season and brought in former NFL coach Herm Edwards, who stated publicly that Napier would be able to continue in his role as OC if he would like. However, Napier declined the opportunity to remain at ASU as the offensive coordinator.{{Cite web |last=Wolken |first=Dan |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Arizona State's hiring of Herm Edwards further under microscope after Billy Napier's departure |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/columnist/dan-wolken/2017/12/15/arizona-states-hiring-herm-edwards-scrutiny-departure-billy-napier/956347001/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=USA Today}}
=Louisiana=
File:2018-0723-SBCMD-BillyNapier.png
On December 15, 2017, Napier was named the 26th football head coach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette replacing Mark Hudspeth.{{Cite web |last=Dabe |first=Christopher |date=December 16, 2017 |title=UL-Lafayette hires former Alabama assistant Billy Napier as football coach |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/ul-lafayette-hires-former-alabama-assistant-billy-napier-as-football-coach/article_e0e26378-7f15-564f-b80e-c4633578d158.html |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}} His first season with the team resulted in a win of the Sun Belt Conference's West division and a bowl appearance (a Cure Bowl loss to the Tulane Green Wave), with a 5–3 conference record and a 7–7 overall record.
Prior to the 2019 season, Napier's Cajuns were picked to finish first in the West Division {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} and picked to finish second in the conference {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}, one vote behind Appalachian State. In addition, eight of his Cajuns were selected to the preseason all-conference team, a feat not accomplished since the early Hudspeth years.{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2019 |title=Eight Ragin' Cajuns Named to Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Teams |url=https://ragincajuns.com/news/2019/7/18/football-eight-ragin-cajuns-named-to-sun-belt-preseason-all-conference-teams.aspx |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=RaginCajuns.com}} Napier's 2019 Cajuns finished with an 11–3 overall record (7–1 conference) and defeated the Miami RedHawks 27–17 in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl (January), his first bowl victory with the Cajuns and as a head coach. The following season, the Cajuns won 2020 First Responder Bowl
.
=Florida=
On November 28, 2021, Napier was named the 28th head football coach at the University of Florida, replacing Dan Mullen.{{Cite web |last=Sallee |first=Barrett |date=November 28, 2021 |title=Florida hires Louisiana's Billy Napier as coach: Gators swipe one of most in-demand names |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/florida-hires-louisianas-billy-napier-as-coach-gators-swipe-one-of-most-in-demand-names/ |access-date=June 30, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} He was officially announced by Florida via a press conference on December 5, 2021.
Napier amassed an 11–14 record in his first two seasons at Florida.{{Cite web |title=2022 Florida Gators Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/florida/2022-schedule.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2023 Florida Gators Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/florida/2023-schedule.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Going into the 2024 season, he faced what many called the most difficult schedule in the country.{{cite web | last=Crawford | first=Brad | title=College football's 15 toughest schedules in 2024, ranked | website=247Sports | date=2024-01-17 | url=https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-footballs-15-toughest-schedules-in-2024-ranked-225439838/ | access-date=2024-08-08}}{{Cite web |last=Parks |first=James |date=2024-03-06 |title=Ranking college football's 10 hardest schedules in 2024 |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/ncaa-football-rankings/college-football-schedule-rankings-2024-season |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=College Football HQ |language=en}} On Saturday, August 31, 2024, the Gators kicked off that schedule with a home loss to their rival Miami Hurricanes, which marked the Gators first loss in a home opener since 1989 and the most points (41) given up in a home opener in program history.{{cite web | last=Rudner | first=Jacob | title=Gators thrashed by rival Hurricanes in first home-opener loss since 1989 | website=247Sports | date=2024-09-01 | url=https://247sports.com/college/florida/article/gators-thrashed-by-rival-hurricanes-in-first-home-opener-loss-since-1989-235429075/ | access-date=2024-09-05}} Despite a difficult schedule, Napier led the team to a 7–5 mark in the regular season.{{Cite web |title=2024 Florida Gators Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/florida/2024-schedule.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He led the team to a 33–8 win over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.{{Cite web |title=Gasparilla Bowl - Tulane vs Florida Box Score, December 20, 2024 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2024-12-20-florida.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
Napier's record of 18–19 (as of Dec. 19) was the worst win percentage by a Florida coach during their tenure since Raymond Wolf, who coached from 1946–49. He also had more home losses (6) in his first 28 games overall than Urban Meyer had in 80 total games (5) and Steve Spurrier had in 150 overall games (5). {{cite web | last=Meyer | first=Craig | title=Urban Meyer says Florida football's loss to Miami was 'painful to watch' | website=Gainesville Sun | date=2024-09-04 | url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/sports/college/florida-gators/2024/09/04/urban-meyer-florida-football-miami-gators-painful-fox-billy-napier/75076747007/ | access-date=2024-10-25}}
Personal life
Napier resides in Gainesville, Florida, with his wife, Ali, and three children.{{Cite news |last=Buckley |first=Tim |date=May 17, 2020 |title=A day in UL coach Napier's new life opens with school |language=en-US |work=The Daily Advertiser |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/ul/2020/05/17/louisiana-football-day-coronavirus-era-life-ul-cajuns-coach-billy-napier-opens-school/5205624002/ |access-date=November 24, 2020}} He is a Christian.{{Cite web |last=Mercer |first=Kevin |date=November 24, 2021 |title=Louisiana football coach Billy Napier leans on God as he leads Ragin' Cajuns to historic success |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2021/11/24/billy-napier-god-louisiana-historic-success/ |access-date=November 26, 2021 |website=Sports Spectrum}} Napier's brother, Matt, is the head football coach at LaGrange High School in Lagrange, Georgia.
Head coaching record
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
| conf = Sun Belt Conference
| startyear = 2018
| endyear = 2021
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 2018
| name = Louisiana
| overall = 7–7
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = T–1st (West)
| bowlname = Cure
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 2019
| name = Louisiana
| overall = 11–3
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 1st (West)
| bowlname = LendingTree
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2020
| name = Louisiana
| overall = 10–1
| conference = 7–1
| bowlname = First Responder
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 16
| ranking2 = 15
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2021
| name = Louisiana
| overall = 12–1
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st (West)
| bowlname = New Orleans{{efn|name=UF|Napier left for Florida before UL's bowl game|group=record}}
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 18
| ranking2 = 16
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Louisiana
| overall = 40–12
| confrecord = 27–5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Florida Gators
| conf = Southeastern Conference
| startyear = 2022
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2022
| name = Florida
| overall = 6–7
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–4th {{small|(Eastern)}}
| bowlname = Las Vegas
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2023
| name = Florida
| overall = 5–7
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–4th {{small|(Eastern)}}
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2024
| name = Florida
| overall = 8–5
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = 10th
| bowlname = Gasparilla
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Florida
| overall = 19–19
| confrecord = 10–14
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 59–31
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
{{notelist|group=record}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/billy-napier-1.html Coaching statistics] at Sports Reference
- [https://floridagators.com/staff-directory/billy-napier/2954 Florida Gators bio]
- [https://ragincajuns.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/billy-napier/1008 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns bio]
- [https://247sports.com/Coach/Billy-Napier-241 247sports.com profile]
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