GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Mark Hocke, Florida’s director of football strength and conditioning and associate head coach, has been moved after two seasons with the club, Gators head coach Billy Napier announced during his Early National Signing Day press conference. The news follows the Gators’ disappointing 5-7 season on the field in 2023.
“I do anticipate some different leadership there, a different approach there,” Napier said in his Wednesday address. “Mark is an incredible leader, man. For the past six years, he has done an excellent job for me. I can’t say enough good things about him in terms of integrity and loyalty. And, one of the things Mark and I have always discussed is what’s next for him in his career, and we’re going to attempt to help Mark with that.
“He’ll be doing different things for our organization, a lot more upstairs, you know, kind of transitioning into the coaching element.” He’s always wanted to accomplish those things, and I believe that gives an opportunity to bring in new leadership in terms of strength and conditioning.”
The Gators had a turbulent second year under Napier’s leadership in Gainesville, completing the year on a five-game losing skid and missing out on bowl eligibility. As a result, Florida’s coaching staff has undergone significant alteration in the hopes of revitalizing the head coach’s term with a more consistent performance in 2024.
Hocke’s reassignment is the most recent change in the unit, following the departures of secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer on Nov. 29. Hocke has worked with multiple Gators staff members, including Napier, over the past 15 years, dating back to their time at Alabama as junior members of the Crimson Tide’s strength and conditioning staff and offensive analyst, respectively, in 2011. Hocke and Napier reunited in 2018 when Napier took over as head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette after brief stints at Florida State and Texas A&M.
When Napier was named head coach at UF, he brought his right-hand guy with him as the director of strength and conditioning and assistant head coach.
“We wouldn’t be here without Mark Hocke,” Napier added, praising the assistant’s efforts. “So, I’m excited about helping Mark pursue some of those things he and I have always discussed.” Throughout the two seasons under Hocke’s leadership, Florida struggled with various strength and conditioning-related issues, particularly in the unit’s ability to generate push in the offensive and defensive trenches. Injuries to defensive end Justus Boone, center Kingsley Eguakun, wide receiver Caleb Douglas, and linebacker Shemar James, among others, influenced the decision to let Hocke go.
Now, Florida will try to fill the position of strength and conditioning coordinator before the start of offseason exercises and the spring football season. Napier stated that the Gators are now in the hiring process.
According to FootballScoop.com, probable successors include New York Giants strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald, ex-Notre Dame head strength coach Matt Balis, and Alabama Director of Applied Science Paul Constantine.
