Florida Gators head coaching search is limited to one specific criteria, and it will please the fanbase
National championships need to be at the forefront of the Florida Gators’ minds.
The Florida Gators are well into their coaching search for the next head coach after firing Billy Napier over the weekend. It’s a crucial hire for athletic director Scott Stricklin, who is making a third hire at the position.
It was a tough situation for the Gators to move on from Napier, especially since he did everything right to build up the infrastructure off the field, but Saturday was a huge problem. He was 22-23 in his career, along with 0-14 against ranked teams on the road. That isn’t going to fly in Gainesville.
Next Florida Gators head coach needs one thing
The next head coach is going to have all the resources and talent at their disposal to take the program to the national championship level that the fanbase has been accustomed to over the last 30 years.
That aspect is weighing heavily on the mind of Stricklin, and it’s included in the reported criteria for the job. The only candidates being considered are those who are a sitting Power Four head coach, per On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos.
“Sources have told On3 that while Florida did not fire Napier until Sunday, vetting of candidates started in the last 10 days,” wrote Nakos. “Hiring a coordinator or a Group of Six coach is not on the table. The Gators are clearly targeting a sitting Power Four head coach who can win championships in Gainesville and has experience recruiting top high school and transfer portal talent.
“Florida wants to compete with Alabama and Georgia for the top talent in the country. Florida’s last SEC championship came in 2008 under Urban Meyer, which was also the Gators’ last national championship.”
This is one of the big reasons why Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has continued to be mentioned as the target for the program, and it makes sense. He has the high-powered offense that many in the fanbase crave, and is the kind of hire that would get people excited. This coach needs to be focused on winning a National Championship.
If it doesn’t end up being Kiffin, morale among the fanbase could go south.
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