Billy Napier appears to have a Sun Belt job locked in for 2026 following his Florida exit

Billy Napier is no longer with Florida after failing to finish the year and losing his job early. However, as life moves on, he is now reportedly taking a new job with James Madison of the Sun Belt conference, with a report indicating a deal is nearly finalized.

“SOURCES: Billy Napier will be the next head coach at James Madison. A five-year deal is being finalized with an announcement coming after Friday’s Sun Belt championship game,” wrote Chris Vanini of The Athletic on X.

Things did not end well for Billy Napier with the Gators, but his strong head coaching record remains notable. In 2021, he led Louisiana to an unforgettable 13-1 season, which helped him secure the job with Florida at the time, and now he is returning to the conference that first launched his career.

Why did Napier leave Florida?

Napier’s departure was triggered by a series of poor recent results. The 2025 season started poorly with a 3-4 record. While this may not be the worst record, it is unacceptable for a program like Florida. As Will Backus and Matt Zenitz detailed for CBS Sports, Napier was expected to lead the Gators much further this season.

“But an early upset loss to South Florida knocked Florida out of the rankings entirely and precipitated an early three-game losing skid for the Gators. A stunning win against No. 9 Texas wasn’t enough to save Napier, who left Gainesville after four seasons and a 22-23 overall record.”

What will Napier’s salary be at James Madison?

Napier’s exact salary with James Madison is not yet known. With Florida, he was earning just over $7 million annually on what was supposed to be a seven-year, $51 million contract. In contrast, James Madison’s former head coach, Bob Chesney, recently had a salary of $833,495 per year.