Corey Raymond will coach entire Florida secondary
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond will have more responsibility in 2023. The 53-year-old veteran will coach both cornerbacks and safeties for the Gators next season.
Raymond will take over both rooms shortly after co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Patrick Toney left for a job with the Arizona Cardinals. Raymond took over a young group of cornerbacks in 2022 and earned rave reviews from his players.
“Coach Raymond is a true guru. You know, like, he not only coaches my position but he makes you learn defense. He makes you learn football and actually know what’s about to happen and why it’s about to happen,” cornerback Jaydon Hill said of Raymond. “Just learning offensive formations, and that’s something that’s big, it goes a long way. Every day he encourages us to work on something, you know, even just 15-20 minutes a day and it’ll change your game tremendously.”
Raymond joined Billy Napier’s staff after spending ten years at LSU, his alma mater. While at LSU Raymond developed a reputation for being one of the best recruiters in the country. Since arriving at Florida he was an integral part in Florida signing Kamari Wilson, Devin Moore, Sharif Denson, Jordan Castell, and Dijon Johnson.
Having been born and raised in Louisiana, coming to Florida was something he had never imagined prior to last year.
“Growing up, [Florida] is a rival. I would never thought I would be here but things happen and maybe it was a blessing,” Raymond said last spring. “Like I said, both parties needed to split. I had been [at LSU] for 10 years and they wanted to go another direction and I hope they do good just not against Florida. I always say it like this, I feel like it was the best decision I made to come here.”
The biggest task for Raymond this season will be coaching a very young and inexperienced safety room. The Gators lost both starters from a season ago and will look to sophomores and freshmen to play considerable snaps in 2023.
Billy Napier still has work to do to finalize his staff. The Gators will announcer Austin Armstrong as co-defensive coordinator this week to replace Toney. They still need to find two more coaches at receiver and tight end, hopefully, before spring camp begins on March 4.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)
