Billy Napier takes James Madison job after $21 million Florida firing
Billy Napier is headed to James Madison.
The former Florida head coach is set to sign a five-year deal with the school, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
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Napier will replace Bob Chesney, who accepted a deal earlier this week to become the head coach at UCLA.
Chesney, who went 20-5 in two seasons at JMU, including an 11-1 record this season, is expected to coach the team through the Sun Belt championship game and a possible College Football Playoff run.
Napier gets a new job after a turbulent three-plus years in Gainesville, going 22-23.
After starting out 3-4 this season, Florida fired Napier, having since hired Jon Sumrall to replace him, giving the former Tulane coach a six-year deal worth around $7.5 million per season.
Florida is reportedly paying out more than $21 million to Napier after the canning.
The JMU hiring will bring Napier back to the Sun Belt Conference after a stint in the SEC.
Before getting the Florida job, Napier spent four seasons as the coach of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, going 40-12 and winning two conference titles from 2018-21.
JMU has been one of the most successful Group of 6 teams in college football in recent years.
Since moving to the FBS and Sun Belt conference before the 2022 season, the Dukes have gone 39-10.
Before Chesney’s departure, JMU suffered another high-profile coaching loss, watching Curt Cignetti leave town for Indiana almost exactly two years ago.
No. 25 JMU will host 8-4 Troy in the Sun Belt championship Friday night.
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