Image Credit: Tiffany Franco / UAA
As new head coach Jon Sumrall continues to fill out his initial Florida Gators coaching staff while simultaneously leading the Tulane Green Wave in the College Football Playoff, the retention of a key member has been crucial to that process. Florida confirmed Friday that defensive line coach Gerald Chatman will not only remain as the program’s defensive line coach, he will receive a promotion to assistant head coach, too.
“When I first arrived in Gainesville, one of my first tasks was to retain Coach Chatman on our staff,” Sumrall said in a statement. “I’ve always respected Coach Chatman — the type of coach he is and how he leads his players. He is a great developer of talent and one of the best defensive line coaches in the country. I couldn’t be more excited to coach with him.”
Chatman, who coached at Tulane immediately preceding Sumrall’s tenure, was originally hired by Billy Napier two years ago. His tenure at Florida has been immensely successful as the Gators have developed numerous defensive linemen; however, a rash of injuries in 2025 severely hindered how many of them were available to play regularly.
Landing his first significant job as a defensive assistant for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019-20, Chatman has been bouncing around the profession for years. He became a defensive assistant at LSU in 2021 then took a job at Tulane to start 2022 only to instead join Colorado as defensive line coach (and ultimately become interim defensive coordinator). After that season, he worked as an interim defensive line coach for the Tigers only to return to coaching the position for the Green Wave.
New LSU head coach Lane Kiffin reportedly tried to bring Chatman back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but Sumrall was able to retain his services in Gainesville, Florida.
“My family and I are blessed to be a part of the University of Florida, the UAA and the Gainesville community,” Chatman said. “We are grateful and embrace the opportunity to work with Coach Sumrall and his family. He will lead with toughness, grit and character, which will result in winning and sustaining a winning culture.”
Head coach — Jon Sumrall | Grade: B-
Defensive coordinator — Brad White | Grade: B-
Offensive coordinator — Buster Faulkner | Grade: A
Defensive line coach — Gerald Chatman | promoted to assistant head coach
Offensive line coach — Phil Trautwein | Grade: A
Defensive backs coach — Brandon Harris | Grade: B
Wide receivers coach — Marcus Davis | Grade: C+
Coaches are listed and grades are finalized only after they are officially announced or firmly reported as being hired.
