REPORT: Florida football will not be retaining Billy Gonzales
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Florida football will not be retaining Billy Gonzales on Jon Sumrall’s first coaching staff in Gainesville, according to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos. The decision officially ends Gonzales’ third stint with the Florida Gators.
Gonzales served as Florida’s wide receivers coach in 2023 and 2024 before stepping into the interim head coach role after Billy Napier was fired during the middle of the 2025 season. A respected developer of talent and one of the most well-traveled assistants in college football, Gonzales has coached receivers at Florida under multiple head coaches, including Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen and Napier.
During his most recent tenure with the Gators, Gonzales helped elevate a young receiving corps that included transfers Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, both of whom finished with more than 700 receiving yards in 2024. He also helped bring in talent like Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson from the prep level.
As Sumrall begins constructing his inaugural coaching staff, changes are expected — a normal part of any coaching transition. Gonzales’ departure is one of those early decisions, though it should be viewed within the context of organizational restructuring rather than as a judgment of his value to the program.
Gonzales leaves behind a respected legacy in Gainesville and Sumrall’s staff-building phase simply represents the next chapter in Florida’s reset under new leadership.
“The University of Florida is special,” Gonzales said after Florida’s last game of the season against Florida State. “I’ve said before that you play for the patch and you honor the name on your back for the players. It is a special place. I look forward to, again, the success of the program, regardless of whether I’m here or not.”
Gonzales finished by saying, “I want these players to experience the success that I’ve had here at the University of Florida, ’cause it’s special.”
While it remains unclear where Gonzales will land next, his resume suggests he will be a sought-after assistant elsewhere.
Florida, meanwhile, continues its overhaul as Sumrall works to build his new-look coaching staff ahead of next season.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football will not be retaining Billy Gonzales, per report
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