Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons⁹

Jon Sumrall

American football player and coach (born 1982)

Jonathan Edward Sumrall (born July 5, 1982) is an American college football coach who is the head football coach at the University of Florida. He previously served as the head coach at Troy University from 2022 to 2023 and Tulane University from 2024 to 2025.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Jon Sumrall (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jul 5, 1982.¹

Early life and education

Date not recordedVirgil I. Grissom High School³

Sumrall was born on July 5, 1982 in Texarkana, Texas and was raised in Huntsville, Alabama where he attended Grissom High School, graduating in 2001. Sumrall played college football at the University of Kentucky as a linebacker, leading the team in tackles as a junior in 2004. Prior to his senior season he was diagnosed with a spinal condition that ended his playing career.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jon Sumrall (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: American football coach, American football player.⁴

Early Coaching Career

Sumrall began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Kentucky, after medically retiring from football. After two years, he was hired by San Diego where he coached under former Kentucky assistant Ron Caragher. Sumrall then served as the co-defensive coordinator at Tulane for three seasons before going to Troy as their assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.

Sumrall was named the linebackers coach at Ole Miss in January 2018. He was also reported to be a finalist for the head coaching position at Troy in 2019 before Chip Lindsey was hired.

Sumrall returned to his alma mater Kentucky in 2019 as the program's inside linebackers coach. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2021.

Troy Trojans

On December 2, 2021, Sumrall was hired as the 23rd head coach at Troy University. In his first season at Troy, he guided the Trojans to a 12–2 record and an 18–12 Cure Bowl victory over the No. 23 ranked UTSA Roadrunners. In Sumrall's second season as the head coach he would guide Troy to a 11–2 record and back to back Sun Belt Conference Championships.

Tulane Green Wave

On December 8, 2023, Sumrall was hired as the 42nd head coach at Tulane. In Sumrall's two seasons with the Green Wave, he guided them to back-to-back American Conference Championship Game appearances (losing to Army in 2024 and defeating North Texas in 2025). Sumrall led Tulane to their first ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2025. Tulane earned the No. 11 seed in the expanded 12-team playoff after winning the American conference championship. Tulane lost 41-10 on the road against No. 6 seed Ole Miss on December 20, 2025.

Florida Gators

On November 30, 2025, it was reported that Florida was finalizing a six-year deal to hire Sumrall as its next head coach. He is reported to have an annual salary of $7.5 million a year with incentives tied to the College Football Playoff. Hours later, the University officially announced his hiring as the school's 31st head football coach.

Sumrall coached Tulane's 2025 postseason game while also working to recruit and retain talent at Florida early in his tenure.

Sumrall began his tenure at Florida with a 66-21 home victory over Florida Atlantic. The following week, Florida defeated Campbell 52-3.

Florida defeated Auburn 44-39 in Jordan-Hare Stadium in their first SEC matchup of the season, resulting in them being ranked #21 in the AP Poll.

Sumrall's Gators followed up this victory with a 52-28 victory over #4 ranked Ole Miss. Running backs Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark spearheaded a Florida run game that rushed for 302 yards in the game.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jon Sumrall (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.