GAINESVILLE — Florida football coach Billy Napier plans to stick with two offensive line coaches and hire Jonathan Decoster with spring practices set to begin Thursday, the Orlando Sentinel confirmed.
Napier had a staff opening to fill after Darnell Stapleton left last month for the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Decoster will step in and collaborate with Rob Sale in a two-assistant setup as the Gators push to improve up front.
UF averaged 4.27 yards per carry, ranking 10th in the SEC. In 2022, the Gators’ 5.51 average ranked third in the league, with All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence anchoring the line and quarterback Anthony Richardson providing a running threat.
Opponents registered just 17 sacks in 2022, but 39 in 2023.
Decoster spent the past three seasons as an offensive assistant with the Cleveland Browns after coaching eight seasons at the collegiate level.
Decoster is native of Miramar who was a four-year starting right tackle at Louisiana Lafayette (2007-10) who spent two years as a IT project manager in southern Louisiana before entering coaching. ULL finished seventh nationally in rushing in 2007 and 2008.
Prior to his NFL stint, Decoster worked two seasons at Nevada (2013-14), West Virginia State University (2015-16), LSU (2017-19) and Old Dominion during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020 season when the Monarchs did not play a game.
The hiring is UF’s fourth assistant coach addition during a busy offseason and seventh during two seasons in Gainesville. Sale, running backs coach Jabbar Juluke and outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson were among Napier’s original 10 assistants.
Napier also recently promoted tight ends coach Russ Callaway to co-offensive coordinator, reassigned strength coach Mark Hocke and overhauled the nutrition staff.
The 44-year-old Gators’ head coach has relied on two offensive line coaches since he became at head coach in 2018 at Louisiana. Despite going 11-14 the past two seasons, Napier will stick with his plans entering a pivotal Year 3 featuring one of the nation’s toughest schedules.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com