The Florida Gators have found their new head coach. According to multiple reports, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall is being hired as the next Florida Gators head coach. The deal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, is for six years and averages $7.5 million per year.
Florida confirmed the news with a formal announcement on social media. In their press release, the Gators said that Sumrall is “known for his energy, leadership, program-building skills and consistent results” and that he “will officially take over the Gators program following the conclusion of Tulane’s season.”
Additionally, Scott Stricklin provided a quote in the release about the hire.
“Jon Sumrall is a proven winner and an exceptional leader who has built successful programs at every stop. He brings tremendous energy, strong recruiting relationships across our footprint, and a philosophy rooted in toughness, discipline, and player development. He will cultivate a daily culture of competitiveness, accountability, and winning that drives success on the field and throughout our program. Jon fully understands the expectations at the University of Florida, including our expectations to produce championship teams that feature a dynamic offense, and we’re excited to welcome him and his family to Gator Nation.”
Sumrall, between his stops at Troy and Tulane, has accrued a 42-11 record. He has found a way to develop talent and win with a variety of players, no matter the resources he is provided. This played out in the 2025 season once again.
Despite losing the majority of his roster, Sumrall helped lead the Green Wave to an American Conference title appearance, multiple appearances in the AP Top-25, and put them in a position to make the CFP.
With more resources in all areas at his disposal, the Gators should be in a good position to compete in the SEC in short order. Meanwhile, Tulane, like USF and Memphis, will enter into the coaching carousel ahead of National Signing Day on Wednesday.
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Brandyn Pokrass
Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2023 with a Communications Degree, a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, and a minor in Broadcasting. Received an M.A. in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2024. Wrote for Jets Insider for two years, was previously a beat writer for Jets X-Factor, previously hosted a Knicks podcast for Let's Talk Knicks, and contributed to Inside the Iggles. Currently writes for Metsmerized Online, contributes to Badlands, and contributes video content to Couch Potato Sports Coverage. Avid movie watcher, gym goer, music listener, and overall sports fan.