The search for a new Gators football head coach has officially begun. Former wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales will serve as interim head coach until Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin finds the program’s permanent replacement.
Stricklin, who is responsible for hiring his third football coach under his nine-year tenure, said the program intends on hiring an “elite” football coach.
“We all want to be competitive, whether it's NIL, whether it's coaching salaries, we're all responding to what the market dictates,” Stricklin said at a press conference Oct. 20. “We're going to try to be as smart as we can with our resources and make the best possible decision. But we're also going to be very competitive.”
Florida owes Napier roughly $21 million under his buyout. Half of that will be paid before a Nov. 19 deadline, and the remaining $10 million will be divided among four separate annual payments through 2029.
With $21 million already on the books, the Gators could spend several million dollars recruiting one of college football’s top coaches. Here are a few of Florida’s options and their buyouts, per USAToday.
Lane Kiffin — $36.6 million
Undoubtedly the biggest name among Florida’s potential hires, the Ole Miss head coach has generated immense buzz this season. Florida can expect to pay a $36.6 million buyout if Lane Kiffin leaves the Rebels.
The team is 7-1 following its Week 9 top-15 victory against the Oklahoma Sooners. In his sixth year with the program, Kiffin has posted a 51-19 overall record. Prior to his time in Oxford, Mississippi, the head coach made stops at Florida Atlantic, University of Southern California and Tennessee.
Whether Kiffin was wearing the headset for the Rebels or Trojans, he’s seen success with his squads. He’s brought Ole Miss to No. 4 on the Week 6 AP Poll, its highest ranking in a decade.
Eli Drinkwitz — $28.8 million
Fellow SEC head coach Eli Drinkwitz knows what it takes to compete in the NCAA. In his sixth season at Missouri Tigers’ helm, he has a career record of 56-27. Prior to his time in Columbia, Missouri, Drinkwitz led Appalachian State to a 12-1 record, the team’s greatest win total since 2006.
Florida would have to pay Missouri around $28.8 million in order for the Tigers’ head coach to be acquired by the Gators.
His success as a head coach will stand out when the time comes to select Napier’s replacement. Legendary UF head coach Steve Spurrier spoke highly of Drinkwitz and Kiffin in an interview with USA Today.
“I firmly think he is a very good coach,” he said of Kiffin when discussing the Gators’ ensuing search. “There’s no question about that. I like him. I like Eli Drinkwitz. I like a lot of guys out there that are proven winners.”
Jedd Fisch — $33.6 million
The University of Washington head coach has an estimated buyout of $33.6 million. He’s made strides in turning around the Huskies’ program both on and off the field.
He was named head coach in 2024 and focused on recruiting in his first season in order to bolster a depleted roster. The team saw a Sun Bowl berth in its first season in the Big Ten.
The journeyman has played an integral part in various organizations at both the collegiate and professional levels. The UF graduate began his career under Spurrier as a graduate assistant in 1990.
Following his two years in Gainesville, Fisch reached the NFL, where he was named to the Houston Texans’ staff as a quality control coach in 2002, and then to the Baltimore Ravens as an offensive assistant two years later.
After eight additional stops in both the NCAA and NFL, Fisch worked with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots as a quarterbacks coach in 2020. He then found his first head coaching job with the Arizona Wildcats, where he led the team to a 10-3 record in 2023.
His success with Arizona aided him in receiving the head coaching bid with Washington. Now, the Huskies face a 6-2 record.
Dan Lanning — $56.7 million
One of the most successful coaches in University of Oregon history is set to be one of the highest-paid coaches after signing an extension through 2030.
Lanning is due $56.7 million if he were to leave Eugene, Oregon, which is the heftiest price tag among Florida’s potential candidates. The head coach has cemented himself in the Ducks’ record books among his four-year tenure.
Lanning has led the Ducks to a 42-7 record and is just the third Oregon coach to post three consecutive 12-win seasons.
Brent Key — $11.1 million
While an improbable move, Georgia Tech’s head coach, Brent Key, could bring his massive success to the SEC. The Yellow Jackets have started 8-0 for the first time since 1966. Georgia Tech leads the ACC 5-0.
Georgia Tech’s 2025 start has sparked many questions regarding Key and his current coaching status. While he’s not expected to be moved from the Yellow Jackets, Key has the lowest buyout price among possible Florida hires at $11.1 million.
Key, a GT alumni, played for the Yellow Jackets from 1997 to 2000. He returned to his alma mater in 2019 as associate head coach before being promoted in 2023.
Marcus Freeman — Unknown
Freeman, one of the most successful figures on this list, could be a long shot to bring into Gainesville. But if he came to The Swamp, he’d turn the program around.
His buyout numbers are not publicly known; although, he inked a four-year extension, keeping him with Notre Dame through 2030. He is set to make around $54 million with the deal.
Prior to agreeing to his most recent contract, Freeman was believed to be linked to a $4 million buyout. The extension likely propelled the number much higher.
Freeman was named head coach of the Irish toward the end of 2021’s season and has a 38-12 record.
He most notably brought the Irish to the National Championship last season, but the team came up short 34-23.
Alex Golesh — Unknown
Golesh’s buyout numbers are not publicly known because he signed his contract with the USF Foundation, a private company. Golesh’s Bulls beat the Gators 18-16 Sept. 6.
The then-top 15 win propelled Golesh’s squad into the AP Top 25. The Bulls (6-2) were ranked No. 18 before losing to Memphis Oct. 25 and dropping out of the Week 10 AP Poll.
Golesh is halfway through his six-year contract and was set to make $2.5 million annually in the first three years of the deal. As 2026 approaches, the USF head coach will see a $200,000 base salary and $2.1 million in supplemental pay.
If the NCAA were to realign programs and initiate USF into a Power Four conference, Golesh would be due around an additional $1 million annually.
Golesh has made USF football unrecognizable in his three years with the program. In addition to this year’s 6-2 record, he brought two bowl game wins to Tampa.
Before Golesh, USF had not seen a winning season since 2018. Prior to his time with the Bulls, Golesh aided both UCF’s and Tennessee’s offenses. He was the Volunteers’ offensive coordinator, where he was a finalist for the Broyles Award ahead of the 2022 postseason.
In Golesh’s first season with Tennessee, he helped the offense break eight program single-season records: points, total offensive yards, touchdowns, point after touchdowns made, total first downs, rushing first downs, fewest interceptions thrown and passing efficiency.
Ahead of his time in Knoxville, Golesh served as co-offensive coordinator of the Knights for one season. In the short stint, he managed to transform the offense. UCF ranked second in FBS in total offense.
If brought in to Gainesville, Golesh knows what it takes to elevate an offense.
Jon Sumrall — Unknown
While not the flashiest of names, Sumrall is a contender for Florida’s vacant position.
He signed an extension to stay in New Orleans through the 2029 season, slated at approximately $3 million annually.
He’s seen major success in leading the Troy Trojans from 2022 to 2023. He brought the program to its highest AP Poll ranking in history at 19.
Sumrall also guided the team to two consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships.
The Alabama native has previous ties to the SEC. Sumrall was named co-defensive coordinator under Mark Stoops with Kentucky in 2021.
Contact Riley Orovitz at rorovitz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @rileyorovitz
Riley is a sophomore sports journalism student and is the swim & dive beat reporter for Fall 2025 in her first semester with The Alligator. In her free time, she may be watching past Miami Dolphins or Florida Panthers highlights or hanging out with her friends.
