As many Gators fans found out, even the offseason provides some surprising developments. After a great first season in Gainesville, secondary coach Will Harris shockingly left the program. Leaving more salt in the wound, Harris left for the University of Miami. With the secondary showing real improvement during the season, many thought Coach Harris’ time in Gainesville was only beginning. There have, however, been some positive new additions for the Gators. Bringing in two new secondary coaches, this defense will certainly look different. Fans will be hoping that it was the players and not Harris himself that led to this season’s defensive improvements. Luckily, the Gators struck quickly, as the new coaches will have the entire Spring Practice window. There is no denying that this was an unexpected change, and only the coming weeks will provide more clarity.
Coaching Change Shocks Fans
Surprise Departure
As discussed above, the Gators were hit with a rather surprising coaching change. After only one season in Gainesville, it was reported that Harris left for a bitter rival, the Miami Hurricanes. These two teams play each other in week four, which will now be even more volatile and fiery. However, rumors have begun circulating that Harris has decided against the move to Miami. After only a couple of days on campus, it appears that he will be heading back to the NFL. With his future up in the air, one thing is certain, and that is the fact that he will not be returning to Gainesville. Taking to Twitter to make his announcement, Harris certainly made it seem as if a return was out of the question. Clearly a talented coach, he will be tough to replace for a Gators team looking to compete.
Secondary Improvement
The last few seasons, the Gators have struggled with their cornerbacks and safeties. Whether it was from coaching or pure talent, this was certainly a step back from the Gators’ usual dominant defenses. This last season, the Gators showed real signs of improvement for the first time in years. After struggling early, fans were dismayed as the defense looked as undisciplined as ever. However, after the first bye week of the season, this unit flipped a switch. The secondary showed the ability to tackle in space, and the physicality was finally up to par. With Coach Harris captaining this unit, fans were excited about his potential for the Orange and Blue. Much more talented at this position, the hope is that the new secondary coaches can harness these abilities. Harris certainly did a good job; however, the jury is out on whether it was due to coaching or player talent.
Recruiting Purposes
One alarming aspect of Harris’ departure is the effect he had on recruiting. Showing off his ability to make connections, players were flocking to commit. The Florida Gators finished with a top-10 recruiting class, largely due to the defensive coaching staff. Will Harris managed to land commitments from many top safeties, and was helping establish this program. Now that he has left, Florida must continue to trend in the right direction. Head Coach Billy Napier has always been talented on the recruiting trail. He must ensure that the new coaches have the same ability that Harris himself had. Florida has been gaining momentum all offseason. After their hot finish to the season, it seemed like Florida would be receiving good news for the next few months. Now with a bit of a gut punch, the Gators can’t allow this to derail their hopes for next season.
New Faces
Not only did the Gators lose Harris from the coaching staff, but they also lost co-defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. Leaving for the Houston Cougars earlier this offseason, the Gators recently found his heir. Hiring Robert Bala from Washington, he will serve as the inside linebackers coach as well as co-defensive coordinator. With experience with the linebackers at Alabama, Bala has shown his coaching pedigree. The Gators have a deep linebacker group, and with Bala’s coaching, this group could lead the defense.
Bringing another young mind to the defensive staff, the Gators hired Vinnie Sunseri. Only 33 years old, he has ascended through the coaching ranks. Last season, he was the defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State. With coaching experience in the NFL, he has all the tools to succeed in Gainesville. Playing football at the University of Alabama, he has been around the game of football in all facets. The Gators brought in a talented safety class for the 2025 recruiting cycle. It will now be up to Sunseri to make sure they keep trending in the right direction.
With the last hire for the defensive staff, the Gators brought in a new cornerbacks coach. Deron Wilson is the former secondary coach at Arkansas. This January, he decided to take the Georgia State defensive coordinator job but flipped his commitment to the Gators. Already experienced in Gainesville, Wilson spent two years as a quality control assistant. Improving the Razorbacks’ secondary during his tenure, he will now have a new challenge. The Gators have a talented cornerback rotation but lost their leader Jason Marshall Jr. to the NFL. This will be a new look after the departure of Harris, the coaching staff must be up to the challenge.
Main Image: Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
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