Gators Finalize Wide Receiver and Tight End Assistant Coaching Hires
Photos: Billy Gonzales and Russ Callaway; Credit: Zach Goodall
The voids created on Billy Napier's coaching staff prior to his second season at the helm of the University of Florida are now officially filled.
Finalizing the hires for two offensive assistant vacancies, the Gators have named Billy Gonzales and Russ Callaway as the team's wide receivers and tight ends coaches, respectively. The duo will are hitting the ground running as the 2023 spring practice slate is already underway.
Callaway was officially announced as the latter on Wednesday afternoon, but has been working with the Florida TE group since spring ball commenced.
Despite being his first assistant coaching role in the lower five, Callaway has endured a modest — but impressive — rise through the coaching ranks since he hit the sidelines nearly a decade ago.
He's spent time at nearly all offensive skill position spots, however, and occupied play-calling duties at Samford from 2016-19. Now, he'll take on the tight ends vacancy left behind by William Peagler (Arizona Cardinal DL assistant) after just one season with the team.
Gonzales, on the other hand, returns to Gainesville after over a year away from the program following the departure of Dan Mullen just before the end of the 2022 season. During that time, he occupied on-field coaching roles at FAU and Marshall.
He was officially announced as Keary Colbert's replacement on Thursday morning, beginning his third stint at UF, and began working with wideouts in the team's first practice session removed from spring break.
On his first day back in orange and blue in front of the media's gaze, All Gators focused on Gonzales' unit. The session included drills familiar to those he operated during his latest stint in Gainesville, as well as the usual routes-on-air portion, where he instructed his receivers while they were working with the quarterbacks.
Wideout assistant David Doeker was in charge of manning the unit until now as Florida hunted down a replacement for Colbert. He remains on staff in that assistant role and is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks.
He will aid Gonzales in developing the talent the new Denver Broncos WR coach leaves behind in the room.
Florida's on-field staff is entirely in place after the three changes it underwent to begin the offseason. Callaway and Gonzales join Gators' defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong — stepping in for Patrick Toney (Arizona Cardinals defensive backs coach) — as the new faces in the assistants' room this season.
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