David Rosenberg, Gators WireTue, December 2, 2025 at 12:47 AM UTC·14 min readFlorida introduced Jon Sumrall as the Gators' new head coach on Monday.
A four-year head coach who's spent time with Troy University and Tulane University, Sumrall spent the initial moments of the press conference giving a detailed introduction of himself. He thanked everyone who made his career possible, including past bosses, coaches, his family and everyone involved with the University of Florida.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSumrall made it clear that he's ready to embrace the culture in Gainesville and reiterated several times that "we will win." He laid out a general plan for what the Florida offense, defense and special teams will look like under Sumrall, and acknowledged the rich history at UF.
Gators Wire is splitting these quotes into two stories: Sumrall's opening statement, and the following question-and-answer portion of the press conference. For the latter, click here.
Opening Statement
"Scott, thank you for that welcome. As I start, I'd like to say, you know, going through the process of making decisions on jobs this time of year. Maybe not being ideal, coaching in the season, there's very few people that you can trust to maybe have that conversation with about what it's like to go through this because it's unique. I do want to be very direct on one thing, and you may or may not appreciate this, but Lane Kiffin and I have been going through the same thing, and we've talked a lot.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We were both in agreement that I was the right man for this job. All right. So he cosigned on that. Lane's a dear friend, and I have to poke a little fun at him. In all seriousness, I like to thank President Landry, the board of trustees, Scott Stricklin and his staff, Chris LeFay, Gary Condron for getting me here today. And all of the Florida Gator Nation that has made this possible for me and my family."
Reflecting on history, thanks to Tulane and Troy
"Before looking ahead to what is to come next, I'd like to reflect briefly on where I've been and what I've been doing, and I owe a couple of thank yous there. I'd like to acknowledge Troy University for giving me the opportunity to be a first-time head coach four years ago.
"I was a linebacker coach, co-defensive coordinator that most people in America didn't know my name unless you really love studying football. And, Dr. Jack Hawkins, the chancellor of Troy University, and athletic director Brent Jones gave me the opportunity to be a first-time head coach. And for that, I will be forever grateful.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I'd like to thank Tulane, President Mike Fitz, Patrick Norton, athletic director David Harris, for giving me the honor and their privilege to be the head football coach there in New Orleans, where my oldest two kids were born, and lead that program. Both opportunities have been special and have meant the world to me.
"I'm also very grateful for Tulane for allowing me to finish the job. The job's not done, and I've got work to do, so today is going to be quick. It's going to be fast. It's been a little bit dizzying at times, but I got to go back tonight because we're in pursuit of doing something special as a team.
"I'd like to thank Tulane and Scott and Florida, for allowing me to go back with my guys and finish that job the right way. I'm also grateful for all those players I've had the opportunity to serve as the head coach at both institutions. The way we lead, the way we coach, I mean, I do life with the guys I coach, and those guys have afforded me this opportunity. I didn't get here on my own.
"We've won a lot of games over the years because the players that I've been privileged to coach. I want to acknowledge those guys, and I want to tell my guys back at Tulane that I was at practice with this morning. I can't wait to see you First thing tomorrow morning."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn family
"It's great to be a Florida Gator. It's great to be a Florida Gator. I'm honored and humbled to be the head football coach of the University of Florida. I'd like to talk about my family, my wife, Ginny, my best friend. I try not to get emotional. We've known each other since we were in high school.
"My senior year prom? Yeah. I forget which dance. I went with one of her best friends, and she was one of my best friends. We grew up about two miles apart, and I've known her since I was a high school kid, but she's my best friend. She's been there every step of the way. When we got married, I was a defensive coordinator at the University of San Diego, which is Double-A non-scholarship football. Not San Diego State. The University of San Diego, the Toreros. Pioneer League, PFL, baby.
"And we're sitting there, I think we're on Pacific Beach one night, and I was getting close to maybe thinking about asking her to marry me. And I said, could you live in Pocatello, Idaho? She said, why would we do that? That's where Idaho State is. I may have to coach there one day. She said, Jon, if you're there, I can go, and I thought, I think this will work.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Ginny, I love you. I'm grateful for you. You've been there every step of the way. Thank you for letting me pursue my goals and dreams. We had options. We had choices. My wife and I, we sat down and we chose Florida. We made that decision. Florida had to choose us, but we chose it back.
"Our four kids are here today. Sam. Sadie, 12-year-old twins, Stella, our nine-year-old daughter and Selah, the caboose — our seven-year-old. The greatest privilege I have, other than being your mom's husband is being y'all's dad.
"When I share with the kids, and Ginny and I share with the kids what we're about to do next. Their responses were very fitting to their personalities. Sam's immediate reaction was, Do you think I'll get a chance to meet Tim Tebow? He's read his book. He also was fired up because we're Jordan brand. He's got his Js on right now.
"Sadie, his twin sister, her first response was, Dad, like the place that gets to play their games in The Swamp? I said ye, Sadie, The Swamp. And she goes, tell mom I'm not sitting in the suite area. I'm sitting in the stands because it seems like a lot of fun there.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"She knows more football than most of you men in the room. Two. She can draw power. I'm not sure if she's got counter down yet.
"Stella, affectionately in our family known as the — What is she known as? Y'all say it — She's the rattlesnake. She'll bite you. She just wanted to know when I told her we were going to be closer to Orlando. Can we go to Disney every summer? I said mom might be able to make that work.
"And then, Selah, her name has the most significance of meaning in our family. Selah, in the Psalms, at the end of Psalms. Selah means to stop, to pause, to reflect and to praise. And with Selah, our number four, we have stopped. Her immediate response was, Dad, can we win a championship there? And I said, damn right we can. She's the life of the party.
"To my mom and dad, George, and Sandra Sumrall, thank you for being there. They've been there every step of the way my whole life. Mom's a saint, dad's stubborn. I love y'ou'all. Thank you for everything you've done for me. It's an honor that you're here today. It means the world that you made it. Thank you.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"My in-laws, the Nixons. Thank you for allowing me to have a wife and be your daughter. And being the best in-laws in the world. I actually get to say that.
"Then, my brother Joe, my biggest fan. You know, Joe, we can win or lose, and Joe usually can find the positives. I think he might be related to Ted Lasso.We leave a game, and my dad used to — he doesn't do it quite as much anymore — but he used to question play calls we'd make. Now that's my son.
"My brother thinks all the play calls are great because I'm his brother, and we're making them, but thank you for being my biggest fan and being there every step of the way to support me."
On embracing Gainesville and the University of Florida
"I can assure you our family is going to be all into this university and all into this community. We will be connected. We will be engaged. We are excited to do life in Gainesville. We're excited to partner with everyone here. The only way we know how to do it is all in.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I also look forward to doing life and partnering with other head coaches here at the University of Florida. As we went through this process of making a decision of what we're going to do next with our future. I had the privilege of spending some time on the phone and visiting with Todd Golden. HHis wife, Megan, kind of helped recruit Ginny a little bit, too.
"Man, I'm excited to support the other sports here at the University of Florida. You're going to see us at basketball games. That was one of the other questions that the kids had is when can we watch Gator basketball? And I said, soon. Tomorrow night against Duke. Not in person, probably. But Todd and Megan have been great. I can't wait to meet the others and partner with them and help her bring championships to Gainesville."
On Florida football legacy
"To the Florida football family. It's got to start with Coach Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Are you kidding me? Like, I get to stand in the same spot and do the same job ass two absolute legends in the football community. And the fact that they're here today means the world to me. I'm kind of pinching myself. I've come a long way to hold the job that they once held.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It means the world that y'all are here. To the former players. You're always welcome home. We want you to know, man, the doors are open. Please come back.
"Danny Wuerffel, I got a chance to spend time with Danny and communicate with Danny and visit with Danny through the process. We want all of you back. We need all of you back. You're always home here.
"To our fans and donors, we can only maximize our success and potential. With your full support. It takes all of us working together to win championships. I love, love, love your passion and your enthusiasm. Eighteen straight sell outs here in The Swamp. That streak is not going to end anytime soon. Build upon that. But that passion and enthusiasm, the fire, that's part of what attracted me here, because I'm wired the same way.
"The standard here is championships. That's why I came. I'm built for this job. I was made for this job. Winners win. I'm a winner. We're going to win."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn roster construction, future
"Roster building. It starts with our current team. I just got the chance to meet with those guys. Retention, in today's college football world, is the most important thing to build a team. We need those guys to stay. And that's the first recruiting effort I have. We also have Sign Day on Wednesday, which is vital. I believe that the lifeblood of your program is recruiting good high school players, and at Florida (is) elite high school football players.
"It starts here at home. We're privileged to be in the state of Florida, which has got just such a great hotbed for not just high school football players, but great coaches, and we don't have to go very far to find what we need to win championships.
"We're also very privileged, though, to have a national brand where we can go all across the country and get the best of the best, the cream of the crop.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We will use the transfer portal. If you've studied my rosters for the last couple of years, I haven't had the resources to keep very many of my good players. They all end up getting poached. So I've had to embrace the transfer portal. Probably more than most, maybe even more than I'd like to at times. By necessity.
"But we will use the portal to enhance our team and to supplement where there may be holes or deficiencies."
On commitment to players
"We're going to run a player-driven program. My job as head football coach here is to serve and to develop the players. It's not to be served. It's to serve. If there were no players, there would be no coaches. If there weren't players in the football team, you wouldn't need me.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Those players are going to get everything I got to help them become their best. I'm also excited to partner with the GatorMade program. The more I learned about that program. I've been really excited about partnering with them and what they do to equip our players and young men for life."
On overall mindset
"We're going to attract a championship-level staff here at the University of Florida. We're going to play with an edge, a blue-collar mindset and a chip on our shoulder. We will be tough. We will have grit. We will not be outworked. We will play with passion and physicality. We will build our scheme in all three phases around our players and their strengths."
On offensive scheme
"On offense, when I think of Florida football, I think of aggressive; I think of explosive; I think about mixing tempos. Using it to your advantage and dictating the game to the opponent. I think about stretching the field and threatening every blade of grass. It all starts with the quarterback and the pieces around him.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We'll get elite lead skill players here. We got some already. We got to keep them. Our O-line has to play with the demeanor thatt's nasty and that is a force to be reckoned with. That will happen. I may be a defensive guy, but I want to be more of a defensive guy like somebody coach Spurrier knows, like Bob Stoops. I want the scoreboard to light up, all right?
"And the way we've played, maybe where I've been, has looked a little different than I want to play moving forward, because your job everywhere you are is to figure out how you win for the place you're at. Well, here, I think we can score a lot of points, and that's what I want to do."
On defensive scheme
"Defensively, we will swarm, and we will attack. We'll play with great pursuit of the football and relentless effort. We'll always be on the hunt because that's what Gators do. We're going to make our opponents uncomfortable. I want to be the most feared defense in the country."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn special teams
"On special teams we're going to play special. We're going to be detailed. We're going to be sound. We're going to win the hidden yardage. We're going to create an advantage in the kicking game. I've got a background on special teams. I've been a special teams coordinator. That will have my fingerprints on it."
To players in the room
"Before I move on, I'd like to acknowledge we got some players here in the back and I can't wait to partner with you all. I'm fired up. Y'all are here. It means the world that y'all are in here today. It's all about y'all."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementClosing of Opening Statement
"In closing, I'll wrap up with just like around here and we go to the fourth quarter. We sing. I won't back down. I won't back down. I will never back down the Florida Gators. We will not back down. Go, Gators."
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators football HC Jon Sumrall Intro Presser opening statement
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