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At this point, it’s a foregone conclusion that 2024 will be Billy Napier’s final season as the head coach at Florida. After going 40-12 across four years at Louisiana-Lafayette, Napier is headed toward a third losing finish in as many years.
Since being hired by the Gators in November 2021, Napier has earned more than $1 million per win — easily one of the worst returns on investment from any program in the Football Bowl Subdivision during this span.
BARGAIN: ASU’s Kenny Dillingham near bottom of Big 12 salaries
This gives Napier the top spot on USA TODAY Sports’ list of the most overpaid head coaches in the country, joining coaches from the Big Ten, ACC, American Athletic and a second choice from the SEC.
Billy Napier, Florida
Florida head coach Billy Napier stands on the sideline during the first quarter of a game against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.
Napier is making $7.4 million in total compensation this season, 21st among coaches. Of the 20 coaches ahead of Napier, all but one has won nine or more games in a single season at a Power Four school. (The exception is Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, and more on him in a moment.) With his tenure drawing to a close, the conversation has shifted to Napier’s buyout. As of Dec. 1, 2024, Napier’s buyout for being terminated without cause is $26.7 million. At 14-17 overall after Saturday’s overtime loss to rival Tennessee, Napier should end up as the program’s first full-time coach to finish his tenure with a losing record since Raymond Wolf went 13-24-2 from 1946-49.
Hugh Freeze, Auburn
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze watches his team warm up before their game against Oklahoma at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
As with Napier at Florida, the hype and fanfare around Freeze’s arrival at Auburn before last season has petered out amid the Tigers’ struggles….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/former-arizona-state-coaches-billy-154522478.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2024-10-16 15:45:22
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