Florida Reassigning Director of Strength and Conditioning Mark Hocke

The Gators are searching for a new head strength and conditioning coach heading into Billy Napier's third year in Gainesville.

Photo: Mark Hocke; Credit: Alex Shepherd

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida has reassigned its director of football strength and conditioning and associate head coach, Mark Hocke, following two seasons with the program, Gators head coach Billy Napier shared with local media during his Early National Signing Day press conference.

The development comes after the Gators' lackluster 5-7 year on the field in 2023.

"I do anticipate some different leadership there, a different approach there," Napier said about the move in his Wednesday address. "Mark's an unbelievable leader, person. He's done a great job for me personally for six years. I can't compliment him enough in terms of character, loyalty. And, one of the things that Mark and I have always talked about is kind of like what's next for him in his career and ultimately we're going to try to help Mark with that. 

"He's going to be doing different things for our organization, a lot more upstairs, you know, kind of making some of that transition into the coaching element. He's always had aspirations to do those things and I think that presents an opportunity to bring new leadership from a strength and conditioning standpoint." 

The Gators endured a tumultuous year two under Napier's rule in Gainesville, finishing the year on a five-game losing streak to squander a shot at bowl eligibility.

As a result, Florida's staff has undergone considerable change in hopes of resurrecting the head coach's tenure with a more sustainable showing in 2024. 

Hocke's reassignment is the latest aspect of that shakeup, succeeding the unit's parting of ways with secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer on Nov. 29.

Hocke spent time with several members of the Gators staff over the past 15 years, including Napier, dating back to their stint at Alabama as a junior member of the Crimson Tide's strength and conditioning staff and offensive analyst, respectively, in 2011. The duo reconvened in 2018 when Napier took over as the head coach at Louisiana-Lafeyette following brief stays with Florida State and Texas A&M for Hocke.

Upon Napier's appointment at the helm at UF, he brought his right-hand man over as the director of strength and conditioning and associate head coach.

"We wouldn't be here without Mark Hocke," Napier said in admiration of the assistant's contributions. "So, I'm excited about helping Mark pursue some of those things he and I have always discussed."

Florida endured several strength and conditioning-led shortcomings throughout the two campaigns under Hocke's guidance, particularly in the unit's ability to create push in the offensive and defensive trenches. Season-derailing injuries to defensive end Justus Boone, center Kingsley Eguakun, wide receiver Caleb Douglas and linebacker Shemar James, among others, also impacted the decision to move on from Hocke.

Now, Florida will aim to fill the strength and conditioning coordinator position before the beginning of its offseason workouts and the spring football regimen.

Napier shared that the Gators are in the thick of the hiring process right now. 

Some names who have emerged as potential replacements include New York Giants strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald, ex-Notre Dame head strength coach Matt Balis and Alabama Director of Applied Science Paul Constantine, FootballScoop.com reports. 

This is a breaking news story that will be updated as further details emerge. 

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