Fast Facts About Florida's Three New Assistant Coaches

Get to know the newest members of Billy Napier's Florida Gators coaching staff.

Billy Napier's on-field coaching staff for his second season as Florida's head coach has been finalized, following the departures of three assistants from the 2022 campaign to the NFL. 

Florida announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong in late February in a quick move to fill a critical position on Napier's staff. Neither Russ Callaway nor Billy Gonzales' hirings as tight ends coach and wide receivers coach, respectively, have been announced by the program by the time this article was published, but both moves have been confirmed by All Gators. 

Get to know each of the Gators' new assistant coaches below. 

Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong

Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong / University Athletic Association - Isabella Marley

• Officially named Florida's defensive coordinator on Feb. 27, days after reports surfaced that former Gators defensive play-caller Patrick Toney was heading to the Arizona Cardinals as an assistant coach (defensive backs) on Feb. 22.
• Spent about one month of the 2023 offseason as inside linebackers coach at Alabama. "You take the job that you had at the University of Alabama to come to a place like Florida. I just didn’t think it was going to happen in a month," Armstrong said on March 11. 
• Previously served as Southern Mississippi's defensive coordinator under head coach Will Hall from 2021-22.
• Was the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS during his first season with the Golden Eagles, at 27 years old.
• Coached a Southern Miss defense that ranked No. 6 in the Sun Belt/No. 45 nationally in scoring (23.5 points per game allowed) in 2022. USM was also third nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.3), fifth in sacks (3.38) and seventh in interceptions (17) last season. 
• Began tenure in Hattiesburg, with the No. 42 nationally-ranked team defense (385.5 yards allowed per game) — improving 18 spots from the year before. Also ranked No. 2 in first downs allowed, No. 4 in fumbles recovered, No. 6 in red zone defense, No. 15 in turnovers gained and No. 24 in passing yards allowed.
• Kicked off coaching career as defensive line coach at West Georgia before joining Louisiana as a defensive graduate assistant in 2017. Armstrong was retained by Napier during his first year as the Ragin' Cajuns head coach in 2018 and returned to Napier's staff as inside linebackers coach for the 2020 campaign, following one season as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia in 2019. 

It became apparent almost immediately that Armstrong had been lined up to replace Toney upon the news breaking of the latter's departure to the pros. Napier nearly suggested as much after Armstrong's hiring was finalized, noting their time spent together at Louisiana and Armstrong's familiarity with the system. 

"I think Austin is well respected out there. I think the opportunities he had this offseason is a reflection of that," Napier said about Armstrong on March 4. "Austin was with us in the past as a graduate assistant, came back as a position coach and then certainly for him to get an opportunity to coordinate defense for two years, and really do a good job. I think his reputation is good

"So, that one was a little simpler than the others and I think it’s going to allow us to, he knows the verbiage, he understands the system and certainly that network of people is pretty well respected there. I think from that staff at Louisiana I think we’ve got four defensive coordinators out there, calling defense. Austin has done a great job. He’s hit the ground running and so far, so good.”

Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales

Florida wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales (2021) / Zach Goodall

• Hired as Florida's wide receivers coach in March, replacing Keary Colbert, who accepted the same position with the Denver Broncos in February.
• Possesses nearly 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, including nine previous seasons with the Gators across two coaching stints.
• Originally joined Florida's coaching staff under former head coach Urban Meyer in 2005. Was a member of Florida's 2006 and 2008 championship teams in wide receiver coaching and recruiting coordinator roles.
• Coached seven wide receivers to All-SEC campaigns during his first stint: First-teamers Chad Jackson (2005), Dallas Baker (2006), Percy Harvin (2007, ’08) and Brandon James (2008), and second-teamers Cornelius Ingram (2007) and Riley Cooper (2009).
• Returned to UF under Dan Mullen from 2018-21 as wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator/passing game coordinator. Under his coaching, Kadarius Toney (first round, 2021), Van Jefferson (second round, 2020), Freddie Swain (sixth round, 2020) and Tyrie Cleveland (seventh round, 2020) were developed into NFL Draft picks, while Josh Hammond and Trevon Grimes went on to sign with teams as undrafted free agents. 
• Additionally pitched into eventual first-round tight end Kyle Pitts' development as Pitts practiced as a wide receiver during his freshman season.
• Also fielded on-field coaching roles at Mississippi State, Illinois, LSU, Utah, Bowling Green, Kent State and MacMurray. 

Gonzales' wide receiver position has been overseen by graduate assistant David Doeker throughout the beginning of 2023 spring camp. Doeker, who was named on Our Coaching Network's Class of 2023 30 Under 30 list, has impressed those around him in an expanded role while UF zeroed in on Gonzales to fill the on-field coaching position. 

"A lot on his plate. Certainly, while we're in transition here, great experience for him," Napier said of Doeker on Saturday. "I know the players respect him and appreciate how hard he's working ... couldn't be more proud of Doeker, and Doeker's got a bright future in front of him."

Tight ends coach Russ Callaway

Florida tight ends coach Russ Callaway / Zach Goodall

• Promoted to tight ends coach at the beginning of Florida's 2023 spring practices, replacing William Peagler, who made the jump to the NFL to become the assistant defensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals. 
• Joined the Gators as a defensive intern in 2022, filling an off-field position vacated by senior analyst Paul Pasqualoni.
• Spent one season with the New York Giants as an offensive assistant in 2021. 
• Held the role of senior offensive assistant at LSU in 2020 under former head coach Ed Orgeron
• Dedicated six seasons to Samford, hired as wide receivers coach in 2015 before earning a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2016, holding onto the role through 2019. 
• Credited with the development of three-time Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year and FCS all-time passing yards leader Devlin Hodges at Samford, who went on to start six games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL.
• Occupied wide receiver coaching and recruiting coordinator roles at Murray State from 2013-14.
• Won back-to-back BCS National Championships as an analyst at Alabama under Nick Saban in 2011-12. Napier worked alongside Callaway as an analyst with the Crimson Tide in 2011.

Gators offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Rob Sale has known Callaway for some time, although the two haven't worked together for a long period of time. Sale received positive reviews of Callaway's coaching from across the SEC, though, while researching his fellow on-field staff member. 

"You know, you ask around about him, about his body of work. He's been the MVP in a lot of buildings. A lot of buildings in the other conference, on the other side," Sale said about Callaway on March 7. "So, you ask people in the know, in the coaches’ world association, he's a stud. He really is. He's a good football coach.”

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