According to 247Sports, Jackson State is slated to employ Kali James, a Florida graduate assistant, as the Tigers defensive line coach. As one of the first coaches to join Florida’s off-field staff under head coach Billy Napier, James helped former Gators defensive line coach Sean Spencer during the 2022-23 season.
While Florida’s primary defensive line coach position was empty, James handled the position’s recruiting duties through the end of the 2024 high school cycle and part of the winter transfer portal period. Following Spencer’s resignation and UF’s December 2023 appointment of Gerald Chatman to handle the Gators’ defensive line, Napier announced that James had been promoted to assistant defensive line coach at Florida, while staying in an off-field function. “We have elevated Kali James. He’s a graduate assistant, an assistant defensive line coach, and he’ll help us with hybrid players,” Napier said on February 7.
Prior to joining Florida, James was the defensive line coach at Land Christian Academy from 2020 to 2021, and he interned at South Carolina in 2019. James, a 2019 Tuskegee alumnus with a psychology degree, was a four-year starter at defensive lineman for the Golden Tigers. In 43 career appearances, he recorded 62 tackles, 19 of which were for loss, 7.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. On National Signing Day, Napier stated his happiness with Chatman’s and new defensive backs coach Will Harris’ performance in less than two months in Gainesville.
“I think [they] have proven to be what we thought they were—really good teachers,” Napier said of Chatman and Harris. “I think they have character. I believe they have a heart for people; they care about the player regardless of the game. Excellent family and pedigree. They’ve been around good coaching and understand what it looks like. They have coached at both the elite and the Power Five levels. So far, I believe they’ve done a wonderful job of connecting with the staff and players.
