Billy Napier went 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana before taking over at Florida. Corey Perrine / USA Today Network via Imagn Images
Billy Napier is back in the Sun Belt. The former Florida and Louisiana head coach will be the next head coach at James Madison, people briefed on the situation told The Athletic.
An announcement is not expected until after Friday’s Sun Belt Championship Game against Troy.
Napier went 22-23 in four seasons at Florida, fired amid a 3-4 start this season. But before Florida, he went 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana, including four Sun Belt Championship Game appearances and two league titles, with a 33-5 record in his final three seasons.
James Madison has been one of the most successful programs in the Group of 5. Ranked No. 25, the Dukes have a shot to make the College Football Playoff if they beat Troy and Duke upsets Virginia in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday night.
Since JMU’s first season in 1972, every coach in program history has had a winning record. The past four head coaches have all won at least 70 percent of their games. It’s been among the best-resourced programs in the Sun Belt since moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision four years ago.
The three previous head coaches — Mike Houston, Curt Cignetti and Bob Chesney — were all hired by JMU after stints at FCS schools. Napier comes into the job with his recent SEC experience, but also four years of success in the Sun Belt, the league in which Louisiana and JMU both play.
Dec 4, 2025
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