A gathering of legends is about to set a bar Florida’s staff must clear

The Florida Gators on Friday are set to welcome back three big names to The Swamp: one of the winningest coaches in college football history, Urban Meyer; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen; and former Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden for a coaches clinic with over 300 high school coaches from throughout the state of Florida.

But beyond the clinic, when that wraps up on Friday, the doors to the coaches’ meeting room will shut and the 2026 Gators football coaching staff will have the opportunity to be addressed by Meyer and learn the true meaning of “The Gator Standard,” what it means to be a Florida Gator, and how to navigate being a coach at the University of Florida both on and off the field, from the three-time national championship coach.

Coaching greats set to speak in Gainesville

“We’re very privileged, I can’t thank the guys enough who are coming to spend time with us in the clinic enough,” said Sumrall. “With Coach Meyer, and Liam Coen and Gruden, what a lineup, right?” said Sumrall. He worked with Coen, before and during the process of taking the job as Florida’s head coach. Sumrall has spent a lot of time with Meyer and getting to know him. He also described how one of his ‘biggest mentors’ worked for Coach Gruden in Oakland. “That lineup is exciting me,” he exclaimed.

“The one thing I think I am excited about is, Urban and Gruden are going to be at practice on Friday,” he noted. This will give the two coaches time to work with players and the staff directly, give feedback, and help send Florida into a strong spring season.

“The other thing I’m excited about is Urban is going to spend some time with our coaching staff, just our coaches and Urban, to address our staff about what It means to be a Florida Gator and what it means to represent this place and do it at a high level and pursue championships,” said Sumrall. He praised Meyer's play style and had the opportunity to work with him on how to maximize the offensive strategy and is excited for him to share that with the coaching staff.

So Friday will be a day that not only the players and local coaches in the community will benefit from, but his staff will walk away with a stronger meaning of what it means to be a Gator.