University of Florida names Jon Sumrall Head Football Coach

Press release from the University of Florida Athletic Administration

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida has named Jon Sumrall as the 31st head football coach in program history, Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced today.

Sumrall, who brings extensive coaching and playing experience in the Southeastern Conference, joins the Gators after engineering rapid turnarounds at two different programs and guiding his teams to championship game appearances in every season he has served as a head coach. Known for his energy, leadership, program-building skills, and consistent results, Sumrall will officially take over the Gators program following the conclusion of Tulane’s season.

Tulane will compete in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game on December 5, and a win would likely propel the Green Wave into the College Football Playoff.

“Jon Sumrall is a proven winner and an exceptional leader who has built successful programs at every stop,” Stricklin said. “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.”

“Not many coaches win big at two different non-Power programs, and even fewer do it as quickly as Jon has done it,” Stricklin said. “He joins rare company — coaches like Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly, and Willie Fritz — who’ve delivered immediate success at multiple stops. Jon’s track record of rapid turnarounds speaks directly to his leadership and the culture he establishes.”

Despite only returning four starters this season, Sumrall has guided No. 22/No. 24 Tulane to a 10-2 (7-1) record and a spot in the conference championship in back-to-back seasons. He has now made four conference championship game appearances in his first four years as a head coach, becoming the only coach in FBS history to do so at two different schools.

Sumrall, 43, has developed a reputation as one of college football’s top young coaches during his tenures at Troy and Tulane and currently owns the fifth-highest winning percentage among active FBS coaches (42-11, .792), trailing only Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, and Curt Cignetti.

He is also widely regarded as a strong recruiter with deep ties throughout the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Sumrall has earned consistent praise for his talent identification, player development, and ability to connect with student-athletes and their families.

“The University of Florida is one of the premier programs in college football, and it’s an incredible honor to serve as the head football coach,” Sumrall said. “I believe in building a team rooted in toughness, accountability, and a relentless competitive spirit. Florida has everything necessary to compete at the highest level — the resources, the support, the tradition, and the passion of Gator Nation. My family and I are excited to get to work.

“One of my first priorities will be to assemble an incredible staff, including an offensive coordinator who understands that, at Florida, having an explosive offense isn’t optional — it’s mandatory!”

In his first season as Tulane’s head coach, Sumrall guided the Green Wave to their third straight American Athletic Conference Championship Game and a bowl appearance versus Florida. His team finished first or second in the conference in 10 statistical categories, including leading the league in third-down conversions (52.5%), defensive touchdowns (6), completion percentage (65.6%), scoring offense (37.2), and pass-efficiency defense (111.65). Tulane led the nation in defensive touchdowns and produced a league-high 18 all-conference selections.

As the head coach at Troy in 2022 and 2023, Sumrall engineered one of the nation’s most impressive program turnarounds — leading the Trojans to back-to-back Sun Belt championships, consecutive 12-win seasons, and multiple national rankings. He was named conference Coach of the Year and twice was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award. Troy’s 23 victories across the 2022-23 seasons were tied for the third most nationally, trailing only Georgia, Michigan, and Washington. Troy and Michigan were the only two programs to win conference titles in both seasons.

Sumrall was a three-year letter-winner at middle linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04. He led the Wildcats with 72 tackles his senior year. A standout off the field as well, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and selected to the Frank G. Ham Society of Character. After earning his finance degree in 2005, he served as a graduate assistant at Kentucky during the 2005 and 2006 seasons under Rich Brooks.

He spent five seasons at the University of San Diego beginning in 2007, including two years as defensive coordinator, before returning to Tulane for a three-year stint as defensive coordinator. Sumrall served as assistant head coach at Troy from 2015-17, then spent four seasons in the SEC — at Ole Miss in 2018 and at Kentucky in 2019-20 and again as co-defensive coordinator in 2023 — before becoming Troy’s head coach.

A two-time all-Alabama selection and four-year letter-winner at Grissom High School, Sumrall was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Hall of Fame in 2023. He is married to the former Ginny Nixon, also of Huntsville, and they have four children: Sam, Sadie, Stella, and Selah.

Sumrall’s approach aligns with Florida’s emphasis on excellence — athletically, academically, and personally. He is known for building strong relationships with student-athletes, fostering team-first cultures, and assembling high-performance staffs aligned with his vision.

“Jon leads with integrity, communicates with clarity, and holds himself and his teams to the highest standards,” Stricklin said. “He is the right leader to lead Florida Football towards the elite success all Gators desire.”

What they’re saying

Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier said, “I’m 100 percent supportive of the hiring of Coach Sumrall. He is an excellent choice and has the track record to prove it. He is a young coach on the way up and certainly has a winning record and produced winning teams. He is coaching in his fourth straight league’s championship game Friday night. He’s a proven winner, and he will bring a little more fire and emotion to our team.”

Gator Heisman Quarterback Danny Wuerffel said, “I got the chance to talk with Jon Sumrall, and I’m really excited for him to be our new coach! He is a winner. His passion is contagious. He is a great leader of men. And for those offensive-minded folks — like me — he understands us and is committed to hiring an elite OC. I’m as excited to be a Gator as I’ve been in a long time.”

Two-time National Championship Coach Urban Meyer said, “What a special day for Gator Nation. Jon is one of the top young coaches in the game. I’ve studied Coach Sumrall and have gotten to spend some time with him. His teams are tough, physical, and he creates a competitive environment. I look forward to getting to know him even more and the special things he will do at Florida.”

Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Liam Cohen said, “He’s an absolute stud. I’ve got a ton of respect for Jon Sumrall as a man, as a person, as a coach. He can connect with all walks of life. Recruits — there’s not many better recruiters I’ve been around at all positions, not just on defense, but the entirety of it. And I know his teams play their tails off. That’s something that you’ve just continued to see.”