Florida going to hire Tulane John Sumrall will be the next football coach, sources confirmed to CBS Sports Matt Zenitz and Richard Johnson. The move would end the search that Lane Kiffin had focused on before it became apparent that staying in Ole Miss or moving to LSU were Kiffin's top picks. Sumrall's deal with Florida will be for six years and $45 million. according to ESPN.
After compiling a 42-11 record in his first four seasons as head coach, Troy and Tulane, Sumrall represents a promising consolation prize for the Gators. Huntsville, Alabama the native was also a candidate for Auburn Job.
Florida fired Billy Napier in October after a 3-4 start to his fourth season. Sumrall, 43, will become Florida's fifth head coach since Urban Meyer left following the 2010 season.
Former star midfielder KentuckySumrall reached the conference championship game in each of his four seasons as head coach. Sumrall's 2025 Tulane team is ranked No. 22 in the CFP and clinched its spot in the American title game by improving to 10-2 (7-1 AAC) and winning Charlotte on Saturday.
Suitable in Florida
Courted by Sumrall West Virginia during last year's training carousel, but decided to stick with Tulane, which seems especially wise now. Florida is one of several SEC positions that have emerged as a potential destination for Sumrall this cycle. As a former Ole Miss assistant, he would be a potential fit for the Rebels.
Given his deep ties to Kentucky, if there was a coaching change there, he would likely be pursued by the Wildcats. He was also closely linked to the Auburn discovery before becoming the target of the Florida search. While Sumrall may not have been the Gators' first choice, he accepted the Florida job as someone with options.
Florida's last SEC championship came in 2008, and the Gators have finished with losses in four of the last five seasons. Sumrall's track record of immediate success in new jobs bodes well for the Gators' efforts to return to the SEC's ruling class. His outward energy and defensive experience also reflect a change in style at Florida, whose last two coaches – Napier and Dan Mullen – were offensive and more relaxed in public.
Sumrall's track record
Sumrall brings SEC experience as both a player and assistant. After leading Kentucky in tackles during the 2004 season, Sumrall was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis and moved to a graduate assistant position for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Worked at the Federal Customs Service level in San Diego from 2007 to 2011, starting as a coach and then rising to defensive coordinator. He then served as an assistant at Tulane (2012-14), Troy (2015-17), Ole Miss (2018) and Kentucky (2019-21) before landing his first coaching job at Troy in 2022.
Kentucky ranked fourth in the SEC in total defense heading into the 2021 season when Sumrall was the program's co-defensive coordinator. Although he plays defensive tackle, Sumrall's teams tend to be well-rounded. The Green Wave tied for second among the Americans in yards per game with 6.7 last season while dominating opponents in time of possession thanks to the best non-service academy rushing attack in the AAC.
Last year, Tulane ranked in the top 25 in offensive and defensive scoring. His 2023 Troy team was led by 3,500-yard passer Gunnar Watson. Sumrall's 2025 team was less statistically dominant than his 2024 team, but the roster provided evidence of Sumrall's coaching acumen.
“Green Wave” recovered from the transfer of star defender Darian Mensah and first-team All-AAC running back Mahi Hughes to win victories over the opponents of the Fourth Force Northwestern And Duke in the first three weeks of the season. These victories put Tulane on the path to its current status as the highest-ranked team in the Group of Five.
