Billy Napier will return as Florida’s head football coach in 2025, athletics director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday.

Napier has been under fire almost his entire tenure in Gainesville, but the Gators have shown steady improvement this season. Despite injuries to quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway, Florida is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in SEC play headed into Saturday’s game at fifth-ranked Texas (11 a.m., ABC).

“As we’ve seen these past several weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator,” Stricklin wrote. “Their resolve, effort and execution are evident in their performance and growth each week — building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond.”

The 45-year-old Napier is 15-17 in three seasons at Florida, going 6-7 with a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl in 2022 and 5-7 in 2023. The Gators must win two of their final four games — at Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State — to reach the postseason this year.

The Gators played one of their better games of the season last week against Georgia, leading much of the first half before Lagway was injured and the Bulldogs rallied for a 34-20 victory. Napier is under contract through 2028, and Florida would owe him a buyout upwards of $25 million if he is fired this year.

“I am confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Stricklin wrote. “We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football. As college athletics evolves, UF is committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

Napier was previously head coach at Louisiana, where he posted a 40-12 record with a pair of Sun Belt Conference championships in four seasons. He was wide receivers coach at Alabama under Nick Saban from 2013-16, and has also been offensive coordinator at Clemson (2009-10) and Arizona State (2017), as well as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach at Colorado State (2012).