Former Florida Gators HC Billy Napier continues to be a popular name for head coach openings with College Football Playoff aspirations

After being linked to both Memphis and Tulane, Billy Napier has emerged as a top candidate at College Football Playoff hopeful James Madison.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 18, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks on against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

When the Florida Gators hired head coach Billy Napier, it felt like a great hire. Heck, in real time, it was praised like the best hire of the cycle. He was viewed by many as a really good recruiter, including winning a recruiter of the year award when he was the wide receivers coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban.

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for both sides, as the Gators went 22-23 under Napier’s leadership and he was fired in October after the homecoming game. The positives of what Napier brought to the Gators came in the form of building the culture and infrastructure, and he was tremendous at doing both of them.

Billy Napier is emerging as a top candidate for multiple College Football Playoff contenders

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen Napier’s name get thrown around for multiple job openings across the Group of Five. He was rumored to be a person of interest for the Memphis Tigers job, and is still seemingly in the running for the Tulane Green Wave job as well, which would be very funny to see him take after their head coach, Jon Sumrall, took the Florida job over the weekend.

On Thursday, Napier emerged as a top candidate for another job, and that is with the James Madison Dukes.

The Dukes are looking for their third head coach in the last three offseasons. Curt Cignetti took the Indiana Hoosiers job after the 2023 season, and their current head coach, Bob Chesney, just accepted the UCLA Bruins job. It’s been a hotbed among the Group of Five level, and Napier could end up benefiting from it.

This is also just the fifth season for the Dukes in the FBS, and they have thrived in the Sun Belt, with their worst season having gone 8-3 in 2022. In the FBS, they are 39-10 over their four seasons, including an 11-1 season thus far, with a real chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Napier’s biggest issue was his offenses, more specifically, the scheme and play-calling. If he is willing to allow someone else to call plays, Napier could be a massive hire for the Dukes.

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