Football
Jay Bateman
- Title:
- Assistant Coach / Inside Linebackers
- Email:
- footballmail@gators.ufl.edu
Jay Bateman enters his second season with the Gators, coaching the inside linebackers.
During his first year at Florida, Bateman delivered two NFL Draft picks, including Ventrell Miller who was picked in the fourth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with Amari Burney who was selected by Las Vegas in the sixth round.
Burney had a breakout season in his final campaign with the Gators, contributing in a multitude of ways. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native ranked tied for first on the team in interceptions (two), second in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (9.0), tied for second in forced fumbles (two), tied for second in pass breakups (4) and fourth in tackles (79). Burney’s 79 tackles ranked tied for 18th in the SEC, while his 9.0 tackles for loss ranked tied for 20th.
Burney was one of five FBS linebackers with at least 4.0 sacks, two INTs and two forced fumbles. He was also one of three SEC defenders to have forced four-plus turnovers in 2022.
Burney’s signature play of 2022 happened during the first game season, however. He sealed a 29-26 season-opening victory over No. 7 Utah with his third-career interception, which came in the endzone with 0:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. The victory marked UF’s highest-ranked victory in a season opener in program history.
Meanwhile Miller, one of the most vocal leaders on team during the 2022 campaign, finished his last season as a Gator with the fifth-most tackles in the team (71). His 71 tackles ranked tied for 26th in the conference.
Bateman’s unit contributed to a Florida defense that produced 22 takeaways during the 2022 season, ranking tied for first in the SEC. Those takeaways factored into a turnover margin (8) that ranked eighth in the nation.
The Gators continued their long-term defensive trends in 2022. Florida ranks fifth nationally in interceptions with 409 and lead the SEC since 1996, while holding opponents to a 54.0 passing completion percentage, which is the seventh-lowest in the FBS and third in the SEC in that that span.
A 25-year coaching veteran, Bateman arrived in Gainesville after spending three seasons as North Carolina’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach (2019-21).
Upon his arrival in Carolina in 2019, Bateman helped engineer major improvements in the Tar Heel defense, which was one of the nation’s top five most improved units in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense that year.
Bateman’s aggressive style was evident in the 36 sacks the team produced in 2020, the most for a Carolina defense since 2000 and tied for fifth nationally. The scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense all ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games that season. The unit produced a first-team All-America in linebacker Chazz Surratt.
During his time with the Tar Heels, Bateman helped develop two NFL Draft picks, including Surrat who was picked in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, along with Jason Strowbridge who was selected in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins in 2020.
Prior to UNC, Bateman spent five seasons (2014-18) as Army’s defensive coordinator.
Army won 29 games during Bateman’s tenure, including three bowl games during his last three seasons, which included two Top-10 finishes in total defense. Bateman was one of five finalists for the 2018 Broyles Award and a semifinalist in 2016.
In 2018, Bateman led Army’s defense to finish eighth nationally in total defense (295.5 ypg) and 10th in scoring defense (17.7 ppg).
The Black Knights finished third in the nation in red zone defense and 14th in passing defense in 2017.
In 2016, Bateman guided a defense that ranked fourth nationally in total defense (291.5 ypg), sixth in passing defense (170.2 ypg) and 18th in rushing defense (121.2 ypg). The Army defensive unit also ranked 16th in scoring defense, allowing 19 points per game, while increasing its interception total from six in 2015 to 17 in 2016.
Prior to Army, Bateman spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Ball State (2011-13). His 2013 defensive unit ranked ninth nationally in turnovers gained with 31 and 12th in turnover margin at +0.9.
Bateman’s defensive unit at Ball State produced an NFL Draft selection in Jonathan Newsome, who was selected in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015.
Bateman spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Elon (2006-10) prior to Ball State. At Elon, Bateman coached Chad Nkang who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007
He also made stops at Lehigh (2005) and Richmond (2004). Bateman gained head-coaching experience at Siena College. He led the program from 2000-03 after spending one season as an assistant coach on staff.
Bateman began his coaching career in 1997, spending two years on staff at Hampden-Sydney. Bateman is a 1995 graduate of Randolph-Macon.
Bateman is a native of Richmond, Va. He and his wife Heather have two children, Bea and CJ.
During his first year at Florida, Bateman delivered two NFL Draft picks, including Ventrell Miller who was picked in the fourth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with Amari Burney who was selected by Las Vegas in the sixth round.
Burney had a breakout season in his final campaign with the Gators, contributing in a multitude of ways. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native ranked tied for first on the team in interceptions (two), second in sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (9.0), tied for second in forced fumbles (two), tied for second in pass breakups (4) and fourth in tackles (79). Burney’s 79 tackles ranked tied for 18th in the SEC, while his 9.0 tackles for loss ranked tied for 20th.
Burney was one of five FBS linebackers with at least 4.0 sacks, two INTs and two forced fumbles. He was also one of three SEC defenders to have forced four-plus turnovers in 2022.
Burney’s signature play of 2022 happened during the first game season, however. He sealed a 29-26 season-opening victory over No. 7 Utah with his third-career interception, which came in the endzone with 0:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. The victory marked UF’s highest-ranked victory in a season opener in program history.
Meanwhile Miller, one of the most vocal leaders on team during the 2022 campaign, finished his last season as a Gator with the fifth-most tackles in the team (71). His 71 tackles ranked tied for 26th in the conference.
Bateman’s unit contributed to a Florida defense that produced 22 takeaways during the 2022 season, ranking tied for first in the SEC. Those takeaways factored into a turnover margin (8) that ranked eighth in the nation.
The Gators continued their long-term defensive trends in 2022. Florida ranks fifth nationally in interceptions with 409 and lead the SEC since 1996, while holding opponents to a 54.0 passing completion percentage, which is the seventh-lowest in the FBS and third in the SEC in that that span.
A 25-year coaching veteran, Bateman arrived in Gainesville after spending three seasons as North Carolina’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach (2019-21).
Upon his arrival in Carolina in 2019, Bateman helped engineer major improvements in the Tar Heel defense, which was one of the nation’s top five most improved units in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense that year.
Bateman’s aggressive style was evident in the 36 sacks the team produced in 2020, the most for a Carolina defense since 2000 and tied for fifth nationally. The scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense all ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games that season. The unit produced a first-team All-America in linebacker Chazz Surratt.
During his time with the Tar Heels, Bateman helped develop two NFL Draft picks, including Surrat who was picked in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, along with Jason Strowbridge who was selected in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins in 2020.
Prior to UNC, Bateman spent five seasons (2014-18) as Army’s defensive coordinator.
Army won 29 games during Bateman’s tenure, including three bowl games during his last three seasons, which included two Top-10 finishes in total defense. Bateman was one of five finalists for the 2018 Broyles Award and a semifinalist in 2016.
In 2018, Bateman led Army’s defense to finish eighth nationally in total defense (295.5 ypg) and 10th in scoring defense (17.7 ppg).
The Black Knights finished third in the nation in red zone defense and 14th in passing defense in 2017.
In 2016, Bateman guided a defense that ranked fourth nationally in total defense (291.5 ypg), sixth in passing defense (170.2 ypg) and 18th in rushing defense (121.2 ypg). The Army defensive unit also ranked 16th in scoring defense, allowing 19 points per game, while increasing its interception total from six in 2015 to 17 in 2016.
Prior to Army, Bateman spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Ball State (2011-13). His 2013 defensive unit ranked ninth nationally in turnovers gained with 31 and 12th in turnover margin at +0.9.
Bateman’s defensive unit at Ball State produced an NFL Draft selection in Jonathan Newsome, who was selected in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015.
Bateman spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Elon (2006-10) prior to Ball State. At Elon, Bateman coached Chad Nkang who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007
He also made stops at Lehigh (2005) and Richmond (2004). Bateman gained head-coaching experience at Siena College. He led the program from 2000-03 after spending one season as an assistant coach on staff.
Bateman began his coaching career in 1997, spending two years on staff at Hampden-Sydney. Bateman is a 1995 graduate of Randolph-Macon.
Bateman is a native of Richmond, Va. He and his wife Heather have two children, Bea and CJ.
| JAY BATEMAN COACHING HISTORY | |
| Year | School, Position (Record as HC) |
| 2022- | Florida, Inside Linebackers Coach |
| 2019-2021 | North Carolina, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach |
| 2014-2018 | Army, Defensive Coordinator |
| 2011-2013 | Ball State, Defensive Coordinator |
| 2006-2010 | Elon, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2005 | Lehigh, Defensive Line Coach |
| 2004 | Richmond, Assistant Secondary Coach |
| 2000-2003 | Siena College, Head Coach (5-35) |
| 1999 | Siena College, Defensive Coordinator |
| 1997-1998 | Hampden-Sydney, Graduate Assistant |
| 1995-1997 | Benedictine High School, Assistant |
| NFL PLAYERS COACHED BY BATEMAN | |||||
| Name | Team | Rnd. | Pos. | College | Draft Year |
| Ventrell Miller | Jacksonville | Round 3, Pick 19, 121 Overall | LB | Florida | 2023 |
| Amari Burney | Las Vegas | Round 6, Pick 26, 203 Overall | LB | Florida | 2023 |
| Chazz Surratt | Minnesota Vikings | Round 3, Pick 15. 78 Overall | LB | North Carolina | 2021 |
| Jason Strowbridge | Miami Dolphins | Round 5, Pick 9, 154 Overall | DE | North Carolina | 2020 |
| Jonathan Newsome | Indianapolis Colts | Round 5, Pick 26, 166 Overall | LB | Ball State | 2014 |
| Chad Nkang | Jacksonville Jaguars | Round 7, Pick 41, 251 Overall | LB | Elon | 2007 |
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