Florida’s past few head coaches have found themselves at odds with Florida’s passionate fan base and lofty program standards. Jon Sumrall brings priorities and a winning mentality that mirrors that of the Gators ideals as he looks to restore Florida’s winning culture.
In recent years, the program has struggled to find someone to fit its expectation of both quick results and significant impacts in the long term. However, the hire of Jon Sumrall points to Florida being intentional about finding a coach that aligns with the program’s priorities.
“From our very first conversation, Jon Sumrall stood out,” Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said. “His clarity, his urgency, his competitive mindset was unmistakable. He didn't just tiptoe around expectations, he leaned into them. He talked about winning a lot with a conviction that stood out.”
If there is one thing head coach Jon Sumrall brings, its intensity, and that may be just what the Gators need. Entering his fifth year as a head coach, Sumrall made stops at Tulane and Troy, where he earned a 42-11 record across four seasons.
His teams have reached the conference championship each year and he has won two conference titles. He eyes a third when Tulane takes on North Texas in the AAC Championship game Friday. The head coach has every intention of restoring that winning culture in Gainesville.
“Winners win,” he said, “I’m a winner. We will win.”
He has played and coached in the SEC as well and said that he knew this conference is where he wanted to end up. He said it presents a new challenge for him that invigorates him as a competitor.
“That passion and enthusiasm, the fire, that's part of what attracted me here,” he said. “I'm wired the same way. The standard here is championships. That's why I came. I'm built for this job. I was made for this job.”
His intensity extends beyond his work on the field. He said even playing basketball with his son in the backyard, he refuses to lose, bringing a deep-rooted desire to win to Florida’s efforts.
He has experience building and elevating teams across college football, and he has done so through demanding winning of each place he lands. He and Stricklin believe this will translate to his vision for UF as well.
“He has a vision to build a Florida football team with an explosive, attacking offense, an outstanding defense, and that's a formula that's worked pretty well for the Gators in the past,” Stricklin said.
Sumrall pledged to focus on winning, and winning fast, while also developing a strategy that will allow the team long-term success. After an emotionally draining season for Florida’s squad, this vision relied just as much on mental preparation as it did the game plan.
“We're going to play with an edge, a blue-collar mindset, and a chip on our shoulder,” he said. “We will be tough. We will have grit. We will not be outworked. We will play with passion and physicality.”
With 21 years of coaching college football behind him, he has had to find the pulse of countless programs. While brand new to the Gators’, he seems to already understand what is at the root of theirs.
“I respect the Florida fan base is not patient,” he said. “They want to win right now, too. You've got the right coach. I'm wired that way. I'm not comfortable having a plan to win in eight years. I want to win tomorrow.”
Sumrall has already worked to bring his expectation of immediate results to fruition. He said Monday he had already talked to 11 of Florida’s recruits, and brought in staff that will match his vigor and commitment to winning.
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X @avadicecca24.
Ava is a sophomore sports journalism student and the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball in her free time and going on beach trips with friends. She has been a Boston sports fan all her life (Brad Marchand we miss you).
