Billy Napier talks first 50 hires, when Gators staff will be complete

Gators coach Billy Napier met with the media this week for the first time since completing his coaching staff and making a total of 50 hires. 

He has announced all 10 assistant coaches, six strength coaches and 34 off-the-field staffers, including 10 recruiting hires.

“We’ve added some really good people since the last time we stood up here with you guys, not only football players but also staff members,” Napier said Wednesday after signing a top-25 class. “We’re building a staff. We’re hiring a lot of people. I think my job has gotten a lot easier with each addition to the staff. We’re thankful for that. It’s probably the most important thing that we do is hire really good people.” 

How close is Napier to completing his staff? He has announced 12 off-the-field coaches, including three analysts and seven quality control coaches. 

Napier has added just one graduate assistant so far — David Doeker — and still has several more to hire. 

“I think we’re a couple of pieces away. I think we’ve got a few spots, graduate assistants, in particular. I think we’ve got more work to do there to fill those jobs. Couple more off-the-field positions,” Napier said. “But for the most part we’re close to being done.” 

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Florida’s staff has 113 years combined working with Napier, but some of his hires don’t have history with him or the other coaches. However, Napier said he’ll have no problem building chemistry with such a large staff.  

“In terms of creating chemistry and morale with the group, I think it takes time,” Napier said. “I think that this group, some of these people have worked together in the past. I think there’s prior relationships, but there’s certainly a lot of new faces too. I’ll tell you what, these official-visit weekends present some of those opportunities. I think there’s nothing like kind of getting in there and working together as a team. Recruiting presents that opportunity. 

“And we’ve got a great group, one that I’ve been very impressed with just the morale overall, the teamwork. That’s what it’s going to take. I think when you hire people, you’re looking for somebody that will be a great teammate. Somebody that has an authentic care for the players. Someone that’s an expert at the job that we’re asking them to do, and certainly fit our recruiting footprint or bring a skill set, a personality to the table that can help us in recruiting. So, so far so good.”

As he did during the Early Signing Period, Napier took time out on NSD to thank additional UAA staff members and the Gainesville community for helping with his recruiting efforts, official visit weekends and in-home visits. 

“It takes a team — operations, personnel, on-campus recruiting, the GatorMade program, the recruiting department, OCR, equipment, university community — all the professors, all the advisors, the tutors, Jeff [Guin] and his staff over at the Hawkins Center. And certainly those UAA pilots. I was thankful for them in the first period but even more thankful in the pride they took in their role in this past month or so,” Napier said. 

“So, I think that there’s a lot of people to thank in the community. Hotel Eleo, we used them the last couple of weekends, and they were exceptional. Coach [Steve] Spurrier, Spurrier’s Gridiron Grill, and Blue Water Bay, several other places that help us out. That’s been great.”