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Florida Gators part ways with Corey Raymond, Sean Spencer

Untitled designby: Nick de la Torre11/28/23delatorre
Florida Gators Sean Spencer Kamran James
Florida co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer. (Jordan McKendrick/UAA Photo)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators defensive makeover has begun. Monday night the Gators parted ways with defensive line coach Sean Spencer and secondary coach Corey Raymond, Gators Online has confirmed. Spencer also served as the co-defensive coordinator.

The news was first reported by Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.

When asked on Saturday following a loss to FSU about accessing his coaching staff, Billy Napier answered plainly.

“I think you’ve got to remain as objective as possible. I think ultimately — I think we work together as a team each day, and I think we do have good morale, chemistry, camaraderie, whatever you want to say. It’s one of the reasons why our team plays the way it does. Bottom line, we have to produce,” he said. “We have to develop. We have to improve. And we all have responsibilities. There’s all parts of the organization where you’re in a leadership position, people have been entrusted to you, roles have been entrusted to you, and this is a production business.”

The Gators are 11-14 in the two seasons since Napier took over, not the production he or Gators fans expect or want.

Prior to arriving in Gainesville, Spencer was the defensive line coach for the New York Giants. He also served as the defensive line coach at Penn State (2014-19), Vanderbilt (2011–2013), and Bowling Green (2009–2010), among other schools.

Spencer’s contract was set to expire at the end of January. Florida also has Rob Sale, Darnell Stapleton, Jabbar Juluke, Jay Bateman and Mike Peterson on contracts that expire at the end of January 2024.

After 10 years at his alma mater, LSU, where he produced seven first-team All-Americans and 14 NFL Draft picks, Raymond came to Florida to join Napier’s inaugural staff as the cornerbacks coach and assistant head coach on defense.

Raymond was promoted this offseason to defensive backs coach and will be in charge of UF’s secondary. Although this news came out after the departure of defensive coordinator Patrick Toney, who coached the safeties in 2022, Gators coach Billy Napier said he made the move with Corey Raymond prior to Toney’s exit.

Despite the new title, it was new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong who coached the safeties in practice. Armstrong, 30, will continue to run the defense. His contract runs through January 31, 2026. He’ll be tasked with replacing these two coaches and filling out his staff.

The Gators finished with the 81st-ranked defense in the country in 2023. The Gators were ranked 68th in pass defense and 93rd in sacks.

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