Florida Finalizes Hiring of Defensive Line Coach
UPDATE: The contract is signed and the ink is dry: Florida has finalized its hiring of Tulane defensive line coach Gerald Chatman in the same position on head coach Billy Napier's assistant staff, UF announced on Friday morning.
"We are excited to welcome Gerald and Lauren, along with Kinley, Amelia, Maya and Tyson, to our Gators family," Napier said about Chatman and his family in a statement via UF.
"He will do a great job with our defensive line. Gerald has proven to be an effective teacher, motivator, mentor and recruiter throughout his career. His experience in the SEC, NFL and other levels of football will be beneficial. We are excited to get to work alongside Gerald as he starts his journey at UF."
Chatman's hiring marks Florida's second move to fill its defensive coaching staff entering the 2024 offseason, of three required. The Gators signed Will Harris as the team's defensive backs coach on Dec. 11, and after Jay Bateman's Thursday bounce to Texas A&M, UF is now tasked with identifying a new inside linebackers coach.
Media outlets including All Gators reported Chatman's expected hiring on Wednesday. At the time, Florida awaited the signing day decision of elite defensive lineman LJ McCray, who ultimately stuck to his Florida commitment.
All Gators' original report regarding Chatman's hiring can be found below.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Amid the commotion of an Early Signing Period in which the Gators officially acquired 20 players and counting, watched two prospects flip to other schools and learned of consensus five-star commitment LJ McCray's decision to delay putting pen to paper, Florida has established plans to hire Tulane assistant Gerald Chatman as its new defensive line coach, multiple sources told All Gators.
A contract between Florida and Chatman has not yet been signed, but it is understood between both parties that Chatman intends to accept the coaching position.
247Sports was first to report the imminent move.
Chatman will replace former Gators co-defensive coordinator and line coach Sean Spencer, who was let go on Nov. 27 alongside secondary coach Corey Raymond. Raymond was replaced by Will Harris, formerly an assistant for the Los Angeles Chargers, on Dec. 11.
Following former Tulane head coach Willie Fritz's postseason move to Houston, it was reported that Chatman would return to the Green Wave and maintain his position on the assistant coaching staff under new head coach Jon Sumrall.
The move was sensible for Tulane as defensive linemen Darius Hodges and Patrick Jenkins received First-Team All-American Conference recognition for their play in 2023. The duo combined for 13 sacks and 21 tackles for loss during the Green Wave's run to the conference championship, which ended in a loss to SMU.
However, Chatman seized the opportunity to coach on the field at a Southeastern Conference program, Florida, following previous stints in off-field and/or personnel capacities in the league, at LSU and Texas A&M.
At Florida, Chatman will inherit a defensive line that contributed to Florida's lackluster 382.3 yards and 27.6 points allowed per game in 2023. The Gators' defense ranked No. 11 in the SEC in both categories, and managed a miserable 22 sacks tallied on the year, ranking No. 12 in the conference.
Florida's defensive front lost starting edge rusher Princely Umanmielen to Ole Miss and rotational contributor Chris McClellan (undecided) via transfer this offseason, as well as reserves Keenan Landry and Will Norman to the transfer portal.
However, Chatman and edge rushers coach Mike Peterson's combined unit acquired transfers Brien Taylor Jr. (Blinn College, JUCO) and Joey Slackman (Pennsylvania), and Michai Boireau from the high school level, during the 2024 Early Signing Period.
Now, the Gators await the final decision of McCray, the top-rated defensive pledge in Florida's haul of commitments and the No. 8 defensive lineman in the class of 2024 by the 247Sports composite rankings. McCray postponed signing his National Letter of Intent before Chatman's hiring became known publicly.
Find Chatman's full coaching history below. The list does not include the multiple positions in which Chatman served only during a single offseason or preseason, including his involvement with the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program.
- 2023: Tulane – Defensive Line Coach
- 2022: Colorado – Defensive Line Coach and Interim Defensive Coordinator
- 2021: LSU – Defensive Analyst
- 2019-20: Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) – Analyst, Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers
- 2018: Tennessee State – Defensive Ends/Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator
- 2017: Tennessee State – Defensive Ends/Linebackers Coach
- 2016: Elon – Defensive Line Coach
- 2015: Texas A&M – Graduate Assistant, Defensive Line
- 2014: Butler – Defensive Line Coach and Assistant Recruiting Coordinator
- 2012-13: Ball State – Defensive Graduate Assistant
- 2010-11: Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Defensive Line Coach
Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.
