Running List of Florida Gators Coaching Staff Changes Under Jon Sumrall

As Jon Sumrall pieces together his first coaching staff with the Florida Gators, Florida Gators on SI is keeping track of each coaching change.

Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall is putting together his first staff with the program. | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- As Jon Sumrall pieces together his first coaching staff with the Florida Gators, Florida Gators on SI is keeping track of each coaching change.

At his introductory press conference, Sumrall said his staff would have a mix of existing staffers, staffers he worked with at prior stops and staffers he has never worked with before.

 "I don't hire a staff off of who are my buddies," he explained. "I hire a staff based upon what is the absolute best group of people we can put together to serve and develop our players and win championships at that place."

Below is a list of Sumrall's staff changes, where old coaches ended up, and where the new coaches came from.

Staff Changes

Coaches

Position	2024 Coach	Where They Ended Up	2025 Coach	Where They Came From
Offensive Coordinator	Russ Callaway	Tulane	Buster Faulkner	Georgia Tech
Quarterbacks	Ryan O'Hara		Joe Craddock	Tulane
Running Backs	Jabbar Juluke	Texas	Chris Foster	Duke
Wide Receivers	Billy Gonzales		Marcus Davis	Auburn
Tight Ends	Callaway	Tulane	Evan McKissack	Tulane
Offensive line	Rob Sale / Jon Decoster	James Madison (Sale)	Phil Trautwein	Penn State
Defensive Coordinator	Ron Roberts	Arkansas	Brad White	Kentucky
Defensive Line	Gerald Chatman	Retained by Florida	Chatman	Retained by Florida
Edge Rushers	Mike Peterson		Bam Hardmon	Tulane
Linebackers	Robert Bala	James Madison	Greg Gasparato	Tulane
Corners	Deron Wilson	Arkansas	Brandon Harris	UCF
Safeties	Vinnie Sunseri	Georgia Tech	Chris Collins	Kentucky
Nickel Corners	Sunseri	Georgia Tech	Dae'One Wilkins	Promoted by Florida
Special Teams	Joe Houston	LSU	Johnathan Galante	Tulane
Strength and Conditioning	Tyler Myles		Rusty Whitt	Tulane

Sumrall Tabs Coordinators

Sumrall's first coaching hires with the Gators were Kentucky's Brad White as the defensive coordinator and Georgia Tech's Buster Faulkner as the offensive coordinator.

Sumrall confirmed White's hiring on Dec. 4, three days after Sumrall's first press conference at Florida.

"Extremely thankful to Coach Sumrall for this exciting opportunity" White said. "I'm ready to hit the ground running on helping construct a defense that will make Gator Nation proud. Coach has already stated the vision - be the most feared defense in college football. Now comes the hard work necessary to make that vision a reality.  And while scheme has its importance, the most critical focus we'll have as a defensive staff will be to develop the highly-talented playmakers we recruit and demand that they play with a pace and violence second to none."

UK defensive coordinator Brad White was hired as the Florida Gators' defensive coordinator. | Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

White spent the last seven seasons as Kentucky's defensive coordinator, three of which with Sumrall on staff and one season with Sumrall as a co-defensive coordinator.

"Brad is one of the best defensive minds in football and I'm thrilled he will be joining us in Gainesville," Sumrall said. "Brad has led one of the best defenses in the SEC the last seven years and has extensive experience in the NFL as well. His defenses possess the exact characteristics we are going to have here at Florida and I can't think of a better leader for that unit."

Faulkner was confirmed to be Florida's offensive coordinator a week after the first report about the move on Dec. 4. He spent the last three seasons as Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator, helping turn the Yellow Jackets' offense into one of the most effective in the ACC.

He was named the 2025 FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the Year.

“Buster is one of the most innovative offensive coaches in football and I couldn’t be happier for him to join our staff,” Sumrall said at the time of his hiring. “Throughout his impressive career, not only has Buster led some of the highest-scoring offenses in the country, but he’s also shown the ability to design and implement his offenses to the strengths of his players. There is not a doubt in my mind that Buster will have our offense lighting up the scoreboard.”

Retentions, Departures Begin

On Dec. 8, days after Sumrall led Tulane to an American Conference title and berth in the College Football Playoff, multiple changes were reported with Florida's existing staff.

To start, receivers coach Billy Gonzales, who also served as the interim head coach, as well as running backs coach Jabbar Juluke,offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Jonathan Decoster and co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Robert Bala were all reported to not be retained, while defensive line coach Gerald Chatman was reported to be retained.

Juluke was first reported to be a target by both Texas and Kentucky for running backs coach, while Bala was reported to join former head coach Billy Napier as the defensive coordinator at James Madison.

Juluke was later announced as the associate head coach for offense and running backs coach at Texas.

Meanwhile, former special teams coordinator Joe Houston has been tabbed as a special teams coach at LSU.

Defensive line coach Gerald Chatman will be retained under new Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall. | Kyle Lander / Florida Gators on SI

Before those reported staff changes, defensive coordinator Ron Roberts was reported to be the top target for Arkansas' defensive coordinator job, where he is expected to be joined by former UF corners coach Deron Wilson.

Meanwhile, Callaway was reported to be the expected offensive coordinator at Tulane, while Vinnie Sunseri was confirmed to not be retained as the safeties coach after a pair of outside hires by Sumrall. He later joined Georgia Tech's staff as the secondary coach.

Staff members who have not had future plans reported but were confirmed not to be retained are quarterbacks coach Ryan O'Hara, edge rushers coach Mike Peterson and strength and conditioning coordinator Tyler Miles.

UF Rounds Out Staff with Outside Hires, Tulane Arrivals

Sumrall is piecing together his non-coordinator coaching staff.

After reportedly interviewed Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein for an assistant role on the offensive side of the ball, Trautwein is confirmed to be the Gators' next offensive line coach. One of the top offensive line coaches in the country, Trautwein also played for the Gators from 2004-08, winning two national titles.

Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein will be one of two former Gators on staff. | Dan Rainville/USA Today Network - PA / USA TODAY NETWORK

Florida also hired UCF defensive backs coach Brandon Harris, who was originally expected to take a job at Florida State, and Kentucky co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Chris Collins.

Harris will coach corners, while Collins will coach safeties. Florida was later reported to be promoting quality control coach Dae'one Wilkins to coach its nickel corners, potentially making him the youngest assistant coach in college football.

Offensively, the Gators tabbed former Auburn receivers coach Marcus Davis for the same position before bringing over two Tulane coaches. Former Green Wave offensive coordinator Joe Craddock will coach quarterbacks under Faulkner, while former offensive line coach Evan McKissack will coach tight ends.

Also coming over from Tulane is Green Wave defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato to coach inside linebackers, Bam Hardmon to coach outside linebackers, Johnathan Galante to coach special teams and Rusty Whitt to lead the strength and conditioning program.

Hardmon, notably, is the second former Gator on staff after Trautwein.

Florida finalized its staff by hiring Duke's Chris Foster as the running backs coach and Georgia Tech's Trent McKnight as the inside receivers coach. Sumrall confirmed all hirings on Jan. 6.