A Strategic Bet on Coaching
The University of Florida has announced a sweeping financial package that will see its football assistants collectively earn $11.2 million in 2026, underscoring a major shift in the program’s budgeting priorities.
Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is set to receive $2.1 million next season under a three‑year, $6.6 million agreement, while defensive coordinator Brad White will begin with $1.85 million and potentially reach $5.85 million over the same period.
Other assistants are also slated for six‑figure increases: defensive line coach Gerald Chapman will move from $950,000 this year to $1 million in 2027, and offensive line coach Phil Trautwine will see his salary rise from $750,000 to $1 million.
Overall, the university plans to spend more than $20 million on Sumrall, his staff and the front office, a figure that dwarfs the $7.5 million paid to the previous 12‑person staff under Billy Napier, who oversaw three losing seasons in four years.
The move comes as the Gators seek to break a cycle of underperformance and re‑establish a competitive presence in the SEC, with administrators citing the need for top‑tier coaching talent to attract recruits and improve on‑field results.