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Florida announces hiring of Tulane's Gerald Chatman as team's defensive line coach

Chatman replaces Sean Spencer, who was fired days after Gators' season ended
Florida Gators football helmet in 2022
(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
A Florida football helmet sits on a table on the sideline during the second half of a game against Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla.
Florida Gators football helmet in 2022
Posted at 7:08 PM, Dec 22, 2023
and last updated 2023-12-22 19:10:16-05

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida announced the hiring of Gerald Chatman as the team's defensive line coach on Friday.

Chatman joins the Gators after serving as Tulane's D-line coach in 2023. The Green Wave ranked eighth nationally in run defense, giving up 93.5 yards a game, and tied for 22nd in the country with 34 sacks. Chatman replaces Sean Spencer, who was fired days after Florida ended its season with a fifth consecutive loss that secured a third straight losing season.

Coach Billy Napier also fired defensive backs coach Corey Raymond and lost linebackers coach Jay Bateman to Texas A&M earlier this week. Bateman was hired as the Aggies' defensive coordinator.

Losing Bateman, Spencer and Raymond leaves Napier with one defensive coach from his initial staff hired before the 2022 season: former Florida standout Mike Peterson.

Chatman's resume also includes stints at LSU, Colorado, the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee State and Elon.

Napier said more changes could be coming. He previously also reassigned strength coach Mark Hocke and fired sports nutritionist Kelsee Gomes.

(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)