Billy Napier

Billy Napier embarked on his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide, contributing to their triumphant national championship seasons in 2011 and 2015. In 2017, Napier took up the mantle as the 26th head coach for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, better known as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Throughout his tenure from 2018 to 2021, Napier achieved a commendable 40-12 record and led the team to three consecutive seasons with over 10 wins, an accomplishment punctuated by the team's victory in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl.

Napier's leadership at Louisiana resulted in a number of firsts for the program, including the team's inaugural finishes in the AP Poll for two seasons. Furthermore, Napier's efforts were recognized when he was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year twice, in 2019 and 2021. Following his successful stint at Louisiana, Napier was named the 28th head football coach at the University of Florida, a position he held from 2022 to 2025.

During his time at Florida, Napier led the Gators to a triumphant outcome in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl. However, his tenure at Florida was not without its challenges, and following a 3-4 start to the 2025 season, Napier was relieved of his position. Despite this setback, Napier's overall coaching record stands at 62-35, a testament to his leadership and coaching abilities honed through years on the field.