Football
Jon Sumrall
- Title:
- Head Coach
Jon Sumrall was named the 31st head football coach in program history, Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced Nov. 30, 2025.
Sumrall, who brings extensive coaching and playing experience in the Southeastern Conference, joins the Gators after engineering rapid turnarounds at two different programs and guiding his teams to championship game appearances in every season he has served as a head coach. Known for his energy, leadership, program-building skills and consistent results, Sumrall will officially take over the Gators program following the conclusion of Tulane’s season.
“Jon Sumrall is a proven winner and an exceptional leader who has built successful programs at every stop,” Stricklin said. “He brings tremendous energy, strong recruiting relationships across our footprint, and a philosophy rooted in toughness, discipline and player development. Jon will cultivate a daily culture of competitiveness, accountability and winning that drives success on the field and throughout our program. He fully understands the expectations at the University of Florida, and we’re excited to welcome him and his family to Gator Nation.
“Not many coaches win big at two different non-Power programs, and even fewer do it as quickly as Jon has,” Stricklin said. “He joins rare company—coaches like Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly and Willie Fritz—who’ve delivered immediate success at multiple stops. Jon’s track record of rapid turnarounds speaks directly to his leadership and the culture he establishes.”
Despite only returning four starters this season, Sumrall guided No. 17 Tulane to a spot in the College Football Playoff after winning the American Conference Championship 34-21 over No. 24 North Texas. Tulane will face No. 6/6 Ole Miss in the first round on Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m.
The Green Wave currently own a record of 11-2 (7-1) and a clinched spot in the conference championship in back-to-back seasons. Sumrall has now made four conference championship game appearances in his first-four years as a head coach, becoming the only coach in FBS history to do so at two different schools.
Tulane placed a league-leading 13 on the 2025 American All-Conference Teams led by Special Teams Player of the Year, kicker Patrick Durkin, who was the first in program history to earn the honor.
Sumrall, 43, has developed a reputation as one of college football’s top young coaches during his tenures at Troy and Tulane and currently owns the fourth-highest winning percentage among active FBS coaches (43–11, .792), trailing only Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart while putting hime just ahead of Curt Cignetti.
He is also widely regarded as a strong recruiter with deep ties throughout the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. Sumrall has earned consistent praise for his talent identification, player development and ability to connect with student-athletes and their families.
“The University of Florida is one of the premier programs in college football, and it’s an incredible honor to serve as the head football coach,” Sumrall said. “I believe in building a team rooted in toughness, accountability and a relentless competitive spirit. Florida has everything necessary to compete at the highest level—the resources, the support, the tradition and the passion of Gator Nation. My family and I are excited to get to work.
“One of my first priorities will be to assemble an incredible staff, including an offensive coordinator who understands that, at Florida, having an explosive offense isn’t optional – it’s mandatory!”
In his first season as Tulane’s head coach, Sumrall guided the Green Wave to their third straight American Athletic Conference Championship Game and a bowl appearance versus Florida. His team finished first or second in the conference in 10 statistical categories, including leading the league in third-down conversions (52.5%), defensive touchdowns (6), completion percentage (65.6%), scoring offense (37.2) and pass-efficiency defense (111.65). Tulane led the nation in defensive touchdowns and produced a league-high 18 all-conference selections.
As the head coach at Troy in 2022 and 2023, Sumrall engineered one of the nation’s most impressive program turnarounds—leading the Trojans to back-to-back Sun Belt championships, consecutive 12-win seasons and multiple national rankings. He was named conference Coach of the Year and twice was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award.
Troy’s 23 victories across the 2022–23 seasons were tied for the third most nationally, trailing only Georgia, Michigan and Washington. Troy and Michigan were the only two programs to win conference titles in both seasons.
Sumrall was a three-year letterwinner at middle linebacker at Kentucky from 2002–04. He led the Wildcats with 72 tackles his redshirt-junior year. A standout off the field as well, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and selected to the Frank G. Ham Society of Character. After earning his finance degree in 2005, he served as a graduate assistant at Kentucky during the 2005 and 2006 seasons under Rich Brooks.
He spent five seasons at the University of San Diego beginning in 2007, including two years as defensive coordinator, before returning to Tulane for a three-year stint as defensive coordinator. Sumrall served as assistant head coach at Troy from 2015–17, then spent four seasons in the SEC—at Ole Miss in 2018 and at Kentucky from 2019–20 and again as co-defensive coordinator in 2023—before becoming Troy’s head coach.
A two-time all-Alabama selection and four-year letterwinner at Grissom High School, Sumrall was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Hall of Fame in 2023. He is married to the former Ginny Nixon, also of Huntsville, and they have four children: Sam, Sadie, Stella and Selah.
Sumrall’s approach aligns with Florida’s emphasis on excellence—athletically, academically and personally. He is known for building strong relationships with student-athletes, fostering team-first cultures and assembling high-performance staffs aligned with his vision.
“Jon leads with integrity, communicates with clarity and holds himself and his teams to the highest standards,” Stricklin said. “He is the right leader to lead Florida Football towards the elite success all Gators desire.”
Jon Sumrall Coaching History
Year by Year Head Coaching Record
Honors
2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Semifinalist
2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List
2025 College Football Playoff Berth
2025 American Athletic Conference Champions
2023 Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalist
2023 Sun Belt Conference Champions
2022 Sun Belt Coach of the Year
2022 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalist
2022 Cure Bowl Champions
2022 Sun Belt Conference Champions
2013 FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year Finalist
What They Are Saying:
Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier
“I’m 100 percent supportive of the hiring of Coach Sumrall. He is an excellent choice and has the track record to prove it. He is a young coach on the way up and certainly has a winning record and produced winning teams. He is coaching in his fourth straight league’s championship game Friday night. He’s a proven winner and he will bring a little more fire and emotion to our team.”
Gator Heisman Quarterback Danny Wuerffel
“I got the chance to talk with Jon Sumrall and I’m really excited for him to be our new coach! He is a winner. His passion is contagious. He is a great leader of men. And for those offensive minded folks—like me—he understands us and is committed to hiring an elite OC. I’m as excited to be a Gator as I’ve been in a long time.”
Two Time National Championship Coach Urban Meyer
“What a special day for Gator Nation. Jon is one of the top young coaches in the game. I’ve studied Coach Sumrall and have gotten to spend some time with him. His teams are tough, physical and he creates a competitive environment. I look forward to getting to know him even more and the special things he will do at Florida.”
Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen
“He’s an absolute stud. I’ve got a ton of respect for Jon Sumrall as a man, as a person, as a coach. He can connect with all walks of life. Recruits, there’s not many better recruiters I’ve been around at all positions, not just on defense, but the entirety of it. And I know his teams play their tails off. That’s something that you’ve just continued to see.”
Noting Sumrall
NFL Players Drafted under Sumrall
Sumrall, who brings extensive coaching and playing experience in the Southeastern Conference, joins the Gators after engineering rapid turnarounds at two different programs and guiding his teams to championship game appearances in every season he has served as a head coach. Known for his energy, leadership, program-building skills and consistent results, Sumrall will officially take over the Gators program following the conclusion of Tulane’s season.
“Jon Sumrall is a proven winner and an exceptional leader who has built successful programs at every stop,” Stricklin said. “He brings tremendous energy, strong recruiting relationships across our footprint, and a philosophy rooted in toughness, discipline and player development. Jon will cultivate a daily culture of competitiveness, accountability and winning that drives success on the field and throughout our program. He fully understands the expectations at the University of Florida, and we’re excited to welcome him and his family to Gator Nation.
“Not many coaches win big at two different non-Power programs, and even fewer do it as quickly as Jon has,” Stricklin said. “He joins rare company—coaches like Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly and Willie Fritz—who’ve delivered immediate success at multiple stops. Jon’s track record of rapid turnarounds speaks directly to his leadership and the culture he establishes.”
Despite only returning four starters this season, Sumrall guided No. 17 Tulane to a spot in the College Football Playoff after winning the American Conference Championship 34-21 over No. 24 North Texas. Tulane will face No. 6/6 Ole Miss in the first round on Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m.
The Green Wave currently own a record of 11-2 (7-1) and a clinched spot in the conference championship in back-to-back seasons. Sumrall has now made four conference championship game appearances in his first-four years as a head coach, becoming the only coach in FBS history to do so at two different schools.
Tulane placed a league-leading 13 on the 2025 American All-Conference Teams led by Special Teams Player of the Year, kicker Patrick Durkin, who was the first in program history to earn the honor.
Sumrall, 43, has developed a reputation as one of college football’s top young coaches during his tenures at Troy and Tulane and currently owns the fourth-highest winning percentage among active FBS coaches (43–11, .792), trailing only Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart while putting hime just ahead of Curt Cignetti.
He is also widely regarded as a strong recruiter with deep ties throughout the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. Sumrall has earned consistent praise for his talent identification, player development and ability to connect with student-athletes and their families.
“The University of Florida is one of the premier programs in college football, and it’s an incredible honor to serve as the head football coach,” Sumrall said. “I believe in building a team rooted in toughness, accountability and a relentless competitive spirit. Florida has everything necessary to compete at the highest level—the resources, the support, the tradition and the passion of Gator Nation. My family and I are excited to get to work.
“One of my first priorities will be to assemble an incredible staff, including an offensive coordinator who understands that, at Florida, having an explosive offense isn’t optional – it’s mandatory!”
In his first season as Tulane’s head coach, Sumrall guided the Green Wave to their third straight American Athletic Conference Championship Game and a bowl appearance versus Florida. His team finished first or second in the conference in 10 statistical categories, including leading the league in third-down conversions (52.5%), defensive touchdowns (6), completion percentage (65.6%), scoring offense (37.2) and pass-efficiency defense (111.65). Tulane led the nation in defensive touchdowns and produced a league-high 18 all-conference selections.
As the head coach at Troy in 2022 and 2023, Sumrall engineered one of the nation’s most impressive program turnarounds—leading the Trojans to back-to-back Sun Belt championships, consecutive 12-win seasons and multiple national rankings. He was named conference Coach of the Year and twice was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award.
Troy’s 23 victories across the 2022–23 seasons were tied for the third most nationally, trailing only Georgia, Michigan and Washington. Troy and Michigan were the only two programs to win conference titles in both seasons.
Sumrall was a three-year letterwinner at middle linebacker at Kentucky from 2002–04. He led the Wildcats with 72 tackles his redshirt-junior year. A standout off the field as well, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and selected to the Frank G. Ham Society of Character. After earning his finance degree in 2005, he served as a graduate assistant at Kentucky during the 2005 and 2006 seasons under Rich Brooks.
He spent five seasons at the University of San Diego beginning in 2007, including two years as defensive coordinator, before returning to Tulane for a three-year stint as defensive coordinator. Sumrall served as assistant head coach at Troy from 2015–17, then spent four seasons in the SEC—at Ole Miss in 2018 and at Kentucky from 2019–20 and again as co-defensive coordinator in 2023—before becoming Troy’s head coach.
A two-time all-Alabama selection and four-year letterwinner at Grissom High School, Sumrall was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Hall of Fame in 2023. He is married to the former Ginny Nixon, also of Huntsville, and they have four children: Sam, Sadie, Stella and Selah.
Sumrall’s approach aligns with Florida’s emphasis on excellence—athletically, academically and personally. He is known for building strong relationships with student-athletes, fostering team-first cultures and assembling high-performance staffs aligned with his vision.
“Jon leads with integrity, communicates with clarity and holds himself and his teams to the highest standards,” Stricklin said. “He is the right leader to lead Florida Football towards the elite success all Gators desire.”
Jon Sumrall Coaching History
| Year | Position, School |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Head Coach, Tulane |
| 2022-23 | Head Coach, Troy |
| 2021 | Defensive Coordinator, Kentucky |
| 2019-20 | Assistant Coach, Inside Linebackers, Kentucky |
| 2018 | Assistant Coach, Linebackers, Ole Miss |
| 2015-17 | Assistant Head Coach, Linebackers/Special Teams, Troy |
| 2012-14 | Defensive Coordinator, Tulane |
| 2010-11 | Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, San Diego |
| 2007-09 | Defensive Line, San Diego |
| 2005-06 | Graduate Assistant, Kentucky |
Year by Year Head Coaching Record
| Years | School | Record | Conference Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Troy | 12-2 | 7-1 | League Champions |
| 2023 | Troy | 11-2 | 7-1 | League Champions, Sumrall did not coach the bowl game |
| 2024 | Tulane | 9-5 | 7-1 | League Championship Game Appearance |
| 2025 | Tulane | 11-2 | 7-1 | League Champions |
| Totals | 43-11 | 28-4 |
Honors
2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Semifinalist
2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List
2025 College Football Playoff Berth
2025 American Athletic Conference Champions
2023 Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalist
2023 Sun Belt Conference Champions
2022 Sun Belt Coach of the Year
2022 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Finalist
2022 Cure Bowl Champions
2022 Sun Belt Conference Champions
2013 FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year Finalist
What They Are Saying:
Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier
“I’m 100 percent supportive of the hiring of Coach Sumrall. He is an excellent choice and has the track record to prove it. He is a young coach on the way up and certainly has a winning record and produced winning teams. He is coaching in his fourth straight league’s championship game Friday night. He’s a proven winner and he will bring a little more fire and emotion to our team.”
Gator Heisman Quarterback Danny Wuerffel
“I got the chance to talk with Jon Sumrall and I’m really excited for him to be our new coach! He is a winner. His passion is contagious. He is a great leader of men. And for those offensive minded folks—like me—he understands us and is committed to hiring an elite OC. I’m as excited to be a Gator as I’ve been in a long time.”
Two Time National Championship Coach Urban Meyer
“What a special day for Gator Nation. Jon is one of the top young coaches in the game. I’ve studied Coach Sumrall and have gotten to spend some time with him. His teams are tough, physical and he creates a competitive environment. I look forward to getting to know him even more and the special things he will do at Florida.”
Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen
“He’s an absolute stud. I’ve got a ton of respect for Jon Sumrall as a man, as a person, as a coach. He can connect with all walks of life. Recruits, there’s not many better recruiters I’ve been around at all positions, not just on defense, but the entirety of it. And I know his teams play their tails off. That’s something that you’ve just continued to see.”
Noting Sumrall
- Jon Sumrall has made four conference championship game appearances in each of his first four years as a head coach. He is the only coach in FBS history to do so at two different schools.
- Sumrall is also the first coach in FBS history to win a conference championship at multiple schools in his first four seasons as a head coach, winning three total titles in that span.
- Sumrall is the third coach in FBS history to reach a conference title game in each of his first four seasons.
- Sumrall is tied for the fifth-most wins (43) among FBS head coaches since 2022 behind only Kirby Smart (51), Ryan Day (48), Dan Lanning (46) and Kalen DeBoer (44). He is tied with Marcus Freeman (43) in that span.
- Sumrall (.796, 43-11) has the fourth-highest winning percentage among current FBS head coaches behind only Ryan Day (.882, 82-11), Dan Lanning (.868, 46-7) and Kirby Smart (.854, 117-20), putting him just ahead of Curt Cignetti (.794, 143-37).
- Sumrall is one of three active SEC head coaches to have played in the SEC (Kirby Smart, Clark Lea). Sumrall and Smart are the only active SEC coaches to assume their positions with prior playing and coaching experience in the SEC.
- Sumrall’s 18 road victories are tied for the most in the FBS since 2022 alongside Ryan Day and Dan Lanning.
- Sumrall is 14-2 all-time in road conference tilts, which is third-best in the FBS since 2022 behind only Ryan Day (15-2) and Dan Lanning (15-2).
- Sumrall has a career record of 30-4 in October, November and December for an .882 win percentage.
- Winning at least nine games in every season as a head coach, Sumrall is currently averaging 10.75 wins per season – and counting.
- Sumrall’s teams have ranked inside the top-30 in the FBS in yards per completion in every season of his tenure: 27th (2025), seventh (2024), 28th (2023) and 18th (2022).
- Sumrall’s defenses have racked up 96 takeaways in his four seasons, which is more than any FBS team since 2022.
- Across four seasons as a head coach since 2022, the 155 total sacks compiled by Sumrall’s teams rank second when compared to all FBS programs in that span, trailing only Penn State (163).
- Sumrall’s teams have finished inside the top-30 in the FBS in takeaways every season: 2025 (24, eighth), 2024 (22, 27th), 2023 (23, 20th) and 2022 (27, eighth).
- Never finishing outside the top-35 in the FBS in turnover margin, Sumrall’s squads have posted a plus-27 turnover margin in his four seasons: 2025 (+10), 2024 (+7), 2023 (+5), 2022 (+5).
- Sumrall’s starting quarterbacks have finished with a passer rating above 138.0 in every season of his tenure: 2025 (139.50), 2024 (166.67), 2023 (146.90) and 2022 (138.78).
- In his four seasons, Sumrall’s starting quarterbacks have a 77-to-30 TD-to-INT ratio.
- Three of Sumrall’s four seasons have seen a running back eclipse 1,100 rushing yards while wideouts have combined for five 700-yard seasons highlighted by a 1,000-plus-yard campaign by Mario Williams in 2024.
- Across 54 games as a head coach, Sumrall’s teams have outscored the opposition by 579 points (1,642-1,063) for an average of 10.7 points per game (30.4-19.7).
- In terms of total yards, Sumrall’s teams have outgained the opposition by 3,613 yards in 54 games (21,909-18,296) for an average of 66.9 yards per game (405.7-338.8).
NFL Players Drafted under Sumrall
| Year | Round | Player | Position | NFL Team | College Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | Caleb Ransaw | CB | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tulane |
| 2025 | 7 | Micah Robinson | CB | Green Bay Packers | Tulane |
| 2024 | 5 | Javon Solomon | EDGE | Buffalo Bills | Troy |
| 2024 | 6 | Kimani Vidal | RB | Los Angeles Chargers | Troy |
| 2024 | 3 | Trevin Wallace | LB | Carolina Panthers | Kentucky |
| 2023 | 4 | Jake Andrews | CB | New England Patriots | Troy |
| 2023 | 7 | Carrington Valentine | CB | Green Bay Packers | Kentucky |
| 2022 | 2 | Josh Pachal | DE/LB | Detroit Lions | Kentucky |
| 2021 | 1 | Jamin Davis | ILB | Washington Commanders | Kentucky |
| 2019 | 7 | Donnie Lewis | CB | Cleveland Browns | Tulane |
| 2018 | 6 | Parry Nickerson | CB | New York Jets | Tulane |
| 2018 | 6 | Ade Aruna | DE | Minnesota Vikings | Tulane |
| 2017 | 6 | Tanzel Smart | DT | Los Angeles Rams | Tulane |
| 2015 | 5 | Lorenzo Doss | CB | Denver Broncos | Tulane |
| 2015 | 7 | Tauren Nixon | CB | Denver Broncos | Tulane |
Florida Football | Sean Kelley, Coach Sumrall, Coach Spurrier, and Coach Meyer
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Florida Football | Head Coach Jon Sumrall Sits Down with Gator Greats Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer
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Wednesday, December 10
Coach Meyer and Coach Saban - Hall of Fame 12-09-25
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