As Tulane enters its College Football Playoff run as the No. 11 seed, newly-hired Florida head coach Jon Sumrall continues to build his new staff in Gainesville.
Billy Gonzales, who served as the Gators’ interim head coach following the dismissal of Billy Napier earlier this year, will not be retained under Sumrall’s staff, according to a report from college football insider Pete Nakos of On3 Sports.
Gonzales went 1-4 as Florida’s interim, notching his only victory in a season-finale win over the Florida State Seminoles on Nov. 29. The 54-year-old assistant coach has three separate stints as wide receivers coach at Florida, serving under Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen and Napier.
Gonzales had hoped to remain with the Florida staff moving forward.
“A goal of mine would be, obviously, [to] be able to stay here,” he said after he was announced as interim head coach. “My first goal is to make sure we put a fantastic group of players on that football field that are going to compete and play for the University of Florida.”
More Football: Miami’s Mario Cristobal Aims CFP Message Directly at Notre Dame
Gonzales helped keep the Gators’ 2026 recruiting class intact as the school transitioned from Napier to Sumrall.
“I look forward to, again, the success of the program, regardless whether I’m here or not,” Gonzales said after Florida’s win over Florida State. “I want these players to experience the success that I’ve had here at the University of Florida ’cause it’s special.”
“I spent the majority of my career here. Special place,” he added. “The University of Florida is special. I’ve said before. You play for the patch, you honor the name on your back for the players. It is a special place.”
More Football: Alabama Hit With Troubling Prediction After Notre Dame’s CFP Snub
Sumrall and Tulane will begin their College Football Playoff campaign with a road-game matchup against the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels on Dec. 20.