Florida Gators promote assistant for third time into impactful position to elevate DJ Lagway
The Florida Gators have made a lot of moves to their coaching staff over the last two weeks. First, they lost secondary coach Will Harris to the Miami Hurricanes. The move came out of nowhere for the Gators, but it was later revealed that Harris might have been forced out by head coach Billy Napier. […]
The Florida Gators have made a lot of moves to their coaching staff over the last two weeks.
First, they lost secondary coach Will Harris to the Miami Hurricanes. The move came out of nowhere for the Gators, but it was later revealed that Harris might have been forced out by head coach Billy Napier.
Just days later, the Gators hired Georgia State defensive coordinator Deron Wilson to take Harris' old job. Seeing that kind of shuffling this late is a bit odd, but it's important that it came after National Signing Day.
Billy Napier promotes assistant to offensive coordinator
For the third-consecutive season, Napier has promoted assistant Russ Callaway. This time, he is being promoted to offensive coordinator where he will be a major factor in helping quarterback DJ Lagway take the next step.
This will be the fourth different title that Callaway has held during his time with the Gators.
- 2022: Defensive intern
- 2023: Tight ends
- 2024: Co-offensive coordinator/tight ends
- 2025: Offensive coordinator
Callaway has been coaching in college football since 2011 when he started as a defensive analyst under Nick Saban for two seasons. The bulk of his coaching has come at the FCS level, where he spent five seasons at Samford where he was the wide receivers coach for a season before adding offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach to his title.
It's going to be a major undertaking for Callaway. The Gators have massive expectations of them due to the emergence of Lagway. His finish to the 2024 season was a major factor in the expectations that surround the football program.
Napier has said that he will call the plays this season for the Gators, which means that Callaway's main responsibilities will revolve around game planning and play design. Don't be surprised to see Napier give him play-calling duties down the line, as Callaway is a fast-rising coach.
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