Florida is sticking with head coach Billy Napier as he will return to Gainesville for a fourth season in 2025, Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday.

“I wanted to let you know that Billy Napier will continue as head coach of the Florida Gators,” Stricklin said in a statement. “As we have seen over the past few weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator. Their determination, commitment and execution are evident in their performance and weekly growth – creating a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond. … I call on the entire Gator Nation to continue to stand behind Billy and his dedicated team as we work together to develop a championship program.

Napier started this season, his third at Florida, in one of the hottest spots in college football. Losses to Miami and Texas A&M earlier in the season didn't help Napier, but the program held up through a tumultuous September. The Gators won three of their next four games following their 33-20 home loss in Week 3 to the Aggies, with the only loss coming in overtime against the then-No. 8 Tennessee on the road.

The Gators beat Kentucky and were leading No. 2 Georgia last Saturday in Jacksonville when star freshman and starting quarterback DJ Lagway left the game with a hamstring injury. Lagway was a highly touted recruit and is expected to be the future at the position in Gainesville. He has played well since taking over for veteran Graham Mertz, who tore his ACL in the loss to the Volunteers.

Florida has been competitive of late against the tougher teams on the schedule and will certainly need to continue that trend as they travel to Austin to take on No. 5 Texas on Saturday.

In his three-plus seasons with the Gators, Napier is 15-18 overall and 8-13 in SEC play.