Florida’s Tulane imports reveal who Jon Sumrall trusts most

The Jon Sumrall era has officially begun at the University of Florida. Less than 24 hours after Sumrall’s Green Wave team was eliminated from the college football playoffs, he is now full-steam ahead on preparing the Gators for the 2026 season. His tenure officially kicked off Sunday  with a flurry of five hires to the coaching staff, all coming from the Tulane Green Wave.

Jon Sumrall rounds out coaching staff at Florida

Per Pete Thamel of College Gameday, Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock is making the move to Florida with Sumrall to assume the role of quarterback coach. Craddock called the shots for Tulane’s American title win in 2025 and also has experience calling plays for three league title winners, including two Sun Belt at Troy and one American.

Thamel also noted that Defensive coordinator, Greg Gasparato is coming to Florida to assume the role as linebackers’ coach. Gasparato was also on the 2025 American Championship-winning team and a part of Troy’s 2023 Sun Belt win.

According to Gators Online's Zach Abolverdi, Bam Hardman, outside linebackers coach and run coordinator at Tulane, is *re-joining* the Gators and is expected to serve in the same role as outside linebackers coach. He has worked under Sumrall for four years, including in 2022 at Troy, and then brought him with him to Tulane. 

Hardman, an All-SEC linebacker and three-year NFL veteran, will now be returning home by following Sumrall to the Swamp. He was a four-year letterwinner at Florida from 1999-2002, including being named a team captain his senior season. He is a Jacksonville native, so not far from home.

In the NFL Hardman spent time with the Miami Dolphins (2003), Seattle Seahawks (2004), and Tampa ay Buccaneers (2005).

He joins Florida as the second former-Gator to be hired onto the coaching staff, joining Phil Trautwein.

As reported by Abolverdi from Gators Online as well, Tulane strength coach Rusty Whitt will be heading to Gainesville in the same role.

Special Teams Cooordinator Jonathan Galante is the fifth coach to be hired by Sumrall on Sunday to join his coaching staff at Florida, per Keith Niebuhr of Gators Online.

Sumrall is also adding to his front office staff with the hiring of Tulane General Manager Cole Heard, per Nick Marcinko of Gator Country. He will be serving as the Chief of Staff to Sumrall and General Manager Dave Caldwell. Heard was the general manager at Tulane the last two seasons and was Troy’s General Manager in 2023.

With these five latest hires all following Sumrall to Florida, it says a lot about how much they trust Sumrall and how much belief Sumrall has in his staff to turn this Gators’ football program around and bring a championship back home to Gainesville.

It’s now full steam ahead on turning his dream to win a championship into a reality at Florida.