The University of Florida’s investment in first-year coach Billy Napier’s football program includes a 55% increase in the recruiting budget to $2 million.
The enhanced commitment to recruiting highlights a $4.72 million increase in football spending to $90.2 million, according to the Gators’ 2022-2023 operating budget obtained by the Orlando Sentinel through a public records request.
The University Athletic Association’s overall budget of $164 million is a $19 million bump.
The football coaching salary pool has increased $2.7 million, to $7.5 million, while the operating budget has increased from $4.372 million to $5.13 million.
Athletic director Scott Stricklin’s willingness to dedicate more resources to staffing and recruiting were a key selling point to Napier, who had rejected previous overtures from SEC schools during his four seasons at Louisiana.
“We’re fortunate to be at a place where they’re giving us the resources to do it a certain way,” Napier said earlier this year.
Lack of spending on recruiting has been cited among the reasons for the recent struggles luring top prospects to Gainesville compared with the nation’s top programs.
A report by 247Sports in October 2021 ranked the Gators’ recruiting budget 14th nationally and more than $2 million behind SEC rival Georgia’s nation-leading $3.6 million. The UAA’s ownership of two jets, a $3.3 million Phenom 100 and $8.5 million Phenom 300, and an aviation department budget of $839,000 offsets some of the costs tied to football recruiting.
Napier and his staff aim to capitalize on the school’s commitment and acquire more top prospects than the previous regime under Dan Mullen.
The Gators’ 2021 class under Mullen ranked 12th, while the 2020 and 2019 ranked ninth nationally. Yet at least four SEC schools, including Georgia, Alabama and LSU, ranked ahead of UF each of those years.
Napier also inherited a roster with question marks at several spots and a considerable lack of depth.
“It’s not that he completely hated recruiting and wanted no part of it and didn’t want his hand in it,” Rivals.com recruiting analyst Adam Gorney said of Mullen. “At that level you have to understand that it’s almost the entirety of what you do as a head coach. There’s so much involved in recruiting.
“From Billy Napier on down, the staff wants to recruit.“
Success on the recruiting trail has been slow to come while high-profile misses have caused angst among Gator Nation.
Five-star cornerback AJ Harris’ June 16 commitment to Georgia and quarterback Jaden Rashada’s commitment Sunday to Miami led some fans to question Napier and his staff.
Yet, Jacksonville cornerback Sharif Denson of Bartram Trail High committed to UF on Monday and Gavin Hill, a 4-star defensive lineman from Gainesville Buchholz, committed Saturday. Each player is rated among the top 250 players nationally, per 247Sports composite rankings, and resides in key recruiting areas for the Gators.
Gorney said Napier and Co. are in the mix for more top prospects than the previous staffs of Mullen and Jim McElwain. Losing out to top programs with more recent success is inevitable.
“There have been some misses, but the sky is certainly not falling,” Gorney said. “He hasn’t even coached a game. You’re going to cast a wide net in recruiting. You’re not going to win them all.”
The recruiting dead period begins Friday.
The UAA’s increased spending extends well beyond football due to an annual increase of $63 million in revenue over the course of 10 years. The increases are generated primarily from the SEC Network and conference contribution (an additional $28 million), ticket sales (a $10 million increase), media rights ($9 million) and booster contributions ($5 million).
The athletic department consequently has increased expenditures for student-athlete support by $19 million during the past 10 years.
In addition to the enhanced financial commitment to football, the UAA has increased overall athletic department salaries and fringe benefits $5 million.
Other spending increases include:
? An additional $3.4 million for administrative services, including utilities and maintenance for the new football training center and expanded soccer/lacrosse facility, increased game operation expense and major maintenance and major purchase funding delayed by the pandemic.
? A $2.5 million increase in Academic Incentive Award resulting from NCAA vs. Alston Supreme Court ruling
? A $2.5 million boost for student-athlete travel and transportation.
? An $800,000 increase for student-athlete meals.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.
