Reports: Florida narrows in on No. 1 candidate for open coaching job

On3 imageby:Nick Schultz11/27/21

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Less than a week after firing Dan Mullen, it sounds like Florida has his replacement in mind, according to multiple reports.

Louisiana coach Billy Napier appears to be Florida’s top target to replace Mullen. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger and Pat Forde report that if a deal is finalized in the next week, Napier will coach the Ragin’ Cajuns in the Sun Belt title game on Dec. 4.

Napier headed to at Louisiana in 2018 — his first head coaching job after working his way through the coaching ranks. Before he took over in Lafayette, Napier was the wide receivers coach at Alabama from 2013-16 and offensive coordinator at Arizona State in 2017.

That valuable SEC experience could be a separator as Florida goes about its search, according to FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman. Fellow FOX analyst Joel Klatt also predicted Napier will end up in Gainesville.

Npaier has a 38-12 record at Louisiana, including 26-5 in Sun Belt play. The Ragin’ Cajuns have appeared in a bowl game in all four years since he took the helm. They’ve won four straight Sun Belt titles and Napier won the Sun Belt Coach of the Year award in 2019.

Louisiana is 10-1 this year and gearing up to close out the regular season Saturday night against Louisiana-Monroe. Kickoff for that game is coming up at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks about who will replace Dan Mullen as the head coach of the Florida Gators. According to Bruce Feldman, a favorite might be emerging in Florida’s coaching search.

Feldman said on Fox Big Noon Kickoff that Louisiana head coach Billy Napier is the favorite at this point to become the next head coach of the Gators.

“One coach I do expect to move is Louisiana’s Billy Napier,” Feldman said on Fox Big Noon Kickoff. “He’s done a terrific job in the Sun Belt. He has emerged as a favorite for the Florida vacancy, I’m told.”

Napier has worked as an assistant under Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban in his career. He also has experience at Colorado State, Florida State, South Carolina State, and Arizona State. Over the past four seasons at Louisiana, Napier has led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 38-12 overall record. Louisiana has three consecutive bowl appearances, and this season will extend that streak to four. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 10-1 this season.