GAINESVILLE — Billy Napier will remain Gators head coach with the school committed to him and confident in the program’s direction despite a losing record, mounting injuries and unceasing outside criticism.

UF athletic director Scott Stricklin addressed the fan base with an open letter Thursday endorsing Napier’s return.

“As we’ve seen these past several weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator,” he wrote. “Their resolve, effort and execution are evident in their performance and growth each week building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond.

“UF’s commitment to excellence and a championship-caliber program is unwavering. In these times of change across college athletics, we are dedicated to a disciplined, stable approach that is focused on long-term, sustained success for Gator athletes, recruits and fans.”

Napier’s reversal of fortune comes during a pivotal season that in September appeared to be over before it started. Double-digits home losses to Miami on Aug. 31 and Texas A&M Sept. 14 left many to wonder if Napier would survive the season’s first month.

But the Gators (4-4, 2-3 SEC) have performed differently since a bye week following a Sept. 21 win at SEC lightweight Mississippi State. Florida effectively addressed a struggling defense and continued to develop young talent, led by quarterback DJ Lagway and tailback Jadan Baugh — true freshmen with star potential.

“It gave us time to come up for some air,” Napier said during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “We were frustrated with how we started the season. We had high expectations. There was really good dialogue and collaboration between the players and coaches. This group stuck together. They were very solution-oriented.

“Since then, we’ve had a little bit of a different edge.”

Napier and his staff’s ability to keep the Gators united, along with their players’ effort and buy-in, resonated with UF decision-makers, led by Stricklin.

Improvement was evident during wins against UCF Oct. 5 and Kentucky, an impressive 48-20 homecoming victory Oct. 19 in the Swamp with Lagway the starter in place of injured veteran Graham Mertz. Yet, age-old questions arose about Napier’s in-game management during a 23-17 overtime loss Oct. 12 at Tennessee. In Knoxville, UF squandered scoring opportunities because of coaching miscalculations and organizational miscues.

The Gators now enter their final four games, beginning Saturday at No. 5 Texas, as 21.5-point underdogs, hoping to avoid a third straight losing season under Napier. He is 15-18

overall, including 2-13 against ranked teams.

Upset hopes are further compromised by an injury-riddled squad, including Lagway.

During this past weekend’s 34-20 loss to No. 2 Georgia, the Gators’ 19-year-old suffered a hamstring injury to his left leg during the second quarter. Third string walk-on quarterback Aidan Warner replaced him, but the Gators were hanging around and tied the score at 20 entering the final minutes before the Bulldogs pulled away.

Lagway’s injury left UF without its top two quarterbacks. Last season’s leading rusher, Montrell Johnson Jr., also was injured at Tennessee, while backup Treyaun Webb has missed the past four games. Top returning receiver Tre Wilson has appeared in just four games in 2024. The team’s top four cornerbacks are also out; starter Devin Moore and reserve Dijon Johnson were injured against Georgia.

The Gators credit Napier for much of their resilience and resolve.

“We’re playing for him,” tight end Hayden Hansen said Monday. “This locker room is playing for him and playing hard. There’s belief still. We’re going to go out and try to win out, get bowl eligible, win the bowl game and carry over this big momentum into next season.

“We’re going to be a dangerous team moving forward.”

Napier will lead the way, yet offseason changes are surely a given.

After a 5-7 finish in 2023, Napier addressed the offense, defense and special teams while recalibrating the strength and nutrition programs. Further tweaks remain, including a front-office structure akin to the NFL to manage the transfer portal and NIL.

The decision will save UF another massive investment in overhauling its cash cow. The school would have owed Napier around $27 million — or 85% of the remaining salary due from his seven-year, $51.8 million contract. The 45-year-old also has several assistant coaches under contract past 2024, including co-defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong for $1.3 million next season and many others from his massive army of support staff, bringing the total owed well above $30 million.

In the age of NIL, significant investment into a team’s roster is imperative. UF spent around $13 million on its current roster but could need to do more this offseason to convince players to join a coach with an uncertain future.

Florida’s coaching turnover and losing ways — 21-25 the past four seasons — have diminished the standing of one of college football’s elite programs and most iconic brands, highlighted by national championships in 1996, 2006 and ’08. The Gators have not won an SEC title since their final national title run under coach Urban Meyer and led by college football legends Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, along with a swarming defense.

The coaching churn has been costly. Florida has spent around $37 million to jettison Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen, along with their assistants.

Stricklin fired McElwain and hired Mullen after the two men worked together at Mississippi State from 2010-16. When their second act failed, Stricklin set his sights on Napier, whose success during four seasons at Louisiana included a 33-5 record and two Sun Belt Conference titles during his final three years in Lafayette.

Napier’s calm demeanor, organizational acumen, recruiting reputation and highly detailed blueprint for success stood in contrast to the mercurial Mullen. Mullen also was 29-9 from 2018-20, with appearances in three straight New Year’s Six bowls.

Following UF’s 5-7 finish in 2023, Stricklin gave his embattled head coach a vote of confidence. He told the Orlando Sentinel in January that Napier’s job was not in jeopardy and hot seat chatter “has nothing to do with reality.”

While the temperature rose to new heights this season, cooler heads prevailed. The reality now is that Napier will be back in 2025.

“I am confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Stricklin wrote. “We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football. Now, I call on all of Gator Nation to continue standing behind Billy and his dedicated team while we work together to build a championship program.”