Florida Gators reportedly hire Billy Napier as head football coach

Louisiana coach Billy Napier will be the next head coach of the Florida Gators, according to Action Network's Brett McMurphy and other reports.

Napier, 42, previously spent four years as wide receivers coach at Alabama and one season as the offensive coordinator at Arizona State. He was hired as head coach of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in 2018 and led the team to a 39-12 record in four seasons, earning a spot in the Sun Belt Championship Game all four years (the game was canceled in 2020).

Louisiana finished the 2020 season 19th in the College Football Playoff rankings, but it hasn't yet appeared in the rankings in 2021, despite finishing the regular season 11-1.

Florida went to three consecutive New Years' Six bowl games during Dan Mullen's tenure as head coach. He was fired during the 2021 season after the Gators lost four consecutive conference games and dropped to 2-6 in SEC play on the year with an overtime loss to the Missouri Tigers.

Special teams coordinator Greg Knox took over following Mullen's dismissal and led the Gators to a 24-21 win against their in-state rival, Florida State.