GAINESVILLE — Tulane special teams coach Johnathan Galante will join new coach Jon Sumrall at UF after supercharging the Green Wave’s special teams during his one season in New Orleans.
A source confirmed Galante’s hiring to replace Joe Houston, who arrived in 2024 from the New England Patriots as an analyst charged with improving the so-called third phase of the game. UF committed seven special-teams penalties in 2023 with analyst Chris Couch in charge.
Galante arrived at Tulane following three seasons at Marshall and became an nominee for the 2025 Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Placekicker Patrick Durkin was named the American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year after making 24-of-27 field goals attempt. A rising redshirt sophomore, Durkin tied second nationally in made field goals while also he ranked fifth with 66 touchbacks (on 77 kicks).
Punter Alec Clark led the AAC with an average of 46.82 yards on 45 attempts, including 15 inside the 20-yard line. . Clark followed Galante from Marshall and has two seasons of remaining eligibility.
The Gators need to replace both kicker Trey Smack, the school-record holder with 10 field goals of 50 yards or more, and punter Tommy Doman, who averaged 44 yards on 50 attempts, with 17 inside the 20, after he transferred from Michigan.
TJ Smith was a third-team All-AAC return specialist as a junior, while freshman Jason Arredondo also made third team as a long snapper, a position UF will have to fill following the departure of former Lake Mary standout Rocco Underwood.
Smack converted 36 of 43 field goals the past two seasons while punter Jeremy Crawshaw left after 2024 as the school-record holder with a punting average of 46.4 yards.
But UF’s coverage teams ranked 11th on kickoffs in ’24 and 12th in ’25, and 10th and 6th on punts, respectively. UF blocked one punt in two seasons.
The Gators ranked in punt returning in 2024 behind receiver Chimere Dike, who has returned two punts for scores with the Tennessee Titans. UF ranked eighth this season. Florida ranked eighth (2024) and 13th (2025) on kickoff returns.
Tulane led the AAC in kickoff coverage and was eighth in punt coverage under Galante.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
