Joe Hamilton, Florida’s director of scouting and recruiting relations, is slated to leave the program for a position at Texas A&M, Swamp247 reports.
Hamilton, a Lewisville, Texas native, began his tenure as a personnel analyst in Gainesville prior to the 2022 season before being elevated to assistant director of player personnel/NFL liaison before the 2023 season.
He returned to Florida to reunite with head coach Billy Napier after three seasons at Louisiana, where Hamilton was in charge of quality control: player personnel/recruitment.
During his three years at Lafayette, Hamilton helped the program land the Sun Belt’s top-ranked recruiting class.
He is the most recent departure from Florida’s coaching staff, following Craig Fitzgerald, Kali James, and on-field assistant Darnell Stapleton, who all resigned immediately after National Signing Day.
James took a position as Jackson State’s defensive line coach on January 24.
On Signing Day, UF head coach Billy Napier lauded James’ work with the program, noting that he will be given more responsibility before to spring camp.
“We’ve got Mike Peterson in that room, Will Harris in that room, Gerald Chatman in that room, you know, we’ve promoted Kali James, he’s a graduate assistant, he’s kind of the assistant defensive line coach and is going to help us with the hybrid players,” Napier said of the defensive line coaching staff at Florida. “It’s a good room, and I think they’re in a good place, they’re excited to work together.”
On February 15, Stapleton, UF’s co-offensive line coach, accepted an invitation to return to the NFL as an assistant offensive line coach with the Washington Commanders.
Stapleton, one of Florida head coach Billy Napier’s original additions to his staff, was hired by the Gators as one of two full-time offensive line coaches for the 2022 season, alongside current Florida offensive line coach Rob Sale.
Stapleton, an off-field offensive line assistant at Louisiana under Napier in 2021, was praised by players and colleagues for his ability to rely on his own playing experiences and pass on the knowledge he gained.
Stapleton was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting right guard in the 2009 Super Bowl He was a finalist for the 2006 Rimington Trophy, which is given to the nation’s outstanding collegiate center.
Four days before Stapleton’s decision to go to Washington, Craig Fitzgerald, Florida’s strength coach, accepted a position on Bill O’Brien’s staff at Boston College.
“I want to thank Fitz for doing a great job during the five weeks he’s been at Florida,” Florida head coach Billy Napier stated after Fitzgerald left. “He is a very professional and well-respected man who has been an excellent resource for our players and our organization. We understand that these decisions are a part of the profession, and we have all been involved in similar dynamics at some point. As I previously stated, this game is all about relationships, and Coach O’Brien and Coach Fitz have a long history together. We have a lot of respect for Fitz and are grateful for what he has done for our team.
