GAINESVILLE — Florida interim coach Billy Gonzales aims to energize the Gators’ attack by elevating Steve Spurrier Jr. into a larger role, hoping to tap into one of the greatest offensive minds in the history of the game.
Former coach Billy Napier, who was fired Sunday, hired the son of Gators’ legend Steve Spurrier this past offseason as an offensive analyst, operating behind the scenes with game planning and strategy.
Gonzales will shift Head Ball Coach Jr. to the sidelines, where he will work directly with quarterback DJ Lagway as the Gators (3-4, 2-2 SEC) push to score more points, beginning with a Nov. 1 against No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) in Jacksonville.
Spurrier Jr., 54, served as a UF graduate assistant from 1994 to 1996 while his famous father and the program’s winningest coach revolutionized offensive football in the SEC. The Gators averaged at least 43 points in each of those seasons, including 46.6 while winning the 1996 national title.
Spurrier’s teams scored 50 points or more 48 times during his 150 games at UF.
“Whenever you’re around one of the greatest offensive minds in history, it’s obviously going to run off on you,” Gonzales said of Spurrier Jr. “I’ve known Coach for a long time. I know he’s a competitor. He’s active, actively involved in the pass game. He’s been actively involved in mentoring some great football players across his time.
“So, we’re just super excited.”
The Spurrier name carries weight like none other at UF, where his Steve Spurrier won the 1966 Heisman Trophy and was 122-27-1 as head coach from 1990-2001.
In 2016, the school changed the name of the Gators’ playing surface to Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, nicknamed “the Swamp” during the 1990s by their iconic coach. Spurrier was 68-5 there during his 12 seasons at UF.
Napier’s Gators were just 17-8 at home during his four seasons. A big reason was his teams’ lacking of scoring punch with Napier calling plays.
UF averages an SEC-low 17 points during games against FBS competition and managed just one touchdown during consecutive September losses to USF, LSU and Miami.
Lagway’s struggles included a five-interception night at LSU. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound he played better during three games in October, but not at nearly the level expected following a breakout 2024 season as a true freshman.
Steve Spurrier Jr. will communicate directly with Lagway on the sideline, while quarterbacks analyst Ryan O’Hara will call plays from the coaches booth and communicate with Spurrier over a headset. Offensive coordinator Russ Callaway also will be heavily involved in offensive strategy and decision-making.
“He’s been involved with the quarterbacks throughout the season,” Gonzales said of Spurrier. “Now, he’s gonna have more of a role because he’s going to be down there on the field, with the quarterback looking in his eyes and getting a chance to talk to him and review the film that’s being relayed through Russ and through Ryan.
“It gives us another opportunity to have a veteran coach working with a quarterback. I’s going to put us in a great situation to help DJ and the quarterbacks perform on the football field.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
