The coach who convinced DJ Lagway to play for the Gators might have been fired on Sunday but his mentor on Florida football’s coaching staff isn’t going anywhere.
In the wake of Billy Napier’s firing, Ryan O’Hara will become play-caller, interim coach Billy Gonzales announced during his introductory press conference on Monday afternoon, Oct. 20.
Napier called plays since he began coaching the Gators in 2022. Many expected the play-calling role to go to offensive coordinator Russ Callaway. Instead, O’Hara will receive the nod as Callaway will remain in his current position.
Gonzales said his reason for picking O’Hara is the relationship between him and Lagway.
“I think it’s really important that the quarterback is an extension of his teacher. In this particular setting, for the next five games, I think that’s going to be critical,” Gonzales said.
O’Hara arrived with Napier from Louisiana-Lafayette in 2021. He served as quarterbacks coach there, a role he assumed at Florida. Prior to this season, he was promoted from offensive analyst to assistant coach.
Lagway said he’s known O’Hara since high school, and he said the coach has taught him a lot.
“Having meetings with him, then during the recruiting process, and helped me with different things and stuff like that,” Lagway said. “I have a great relationship with Coach O’Hara, and I’m excited for it.”
O’Hara knows Lagway’s strengths and weaknesses. This will allow for a smooth transition in his opinion.
“He knows what I excel at. He knows what I need to work on,” Lagway said. “Like coach Billy G said, Having that player-to-coach communication, it’s going to be huge.”
For that reason, Gonzales said he doesn’t plan on moving O’Hara up to the press box as the play-caller.
“I think it’s important that he has an opportunity to sit and talk to DJ and have DJ look at him in the eyes,” Gonzales said. “That’s always something that I’ve always thought was an important piece as a quarterback coach.”
Gonzales emphasized he doesn’t plan to change much from the offensive play calling side. He noted that Napier’s system has a “arsenal of plays,” but Gonzales did say he’d like to see the Gators spread it out more and the playmakers involved.
As the wide receivers coach, Gonzales is very familiar with the talent of Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson and the rest of UF’s explosive receivers.
“I think the one thing that we want to be able to do is put our players in the best possible position and play to their strengths,” Gonzales said. “If that means tweaking some things where we can get guys — whether it’s RPOs, taking different types of shots, different types of play-actions — that’s all part of it.”
“We’ve got great players here,” Gonzales continued. “If we can get some guys the ball in space and let them work, I think you’ll see a Florida offense that’s ready to roll.”
That assertion excited Lagway, who has thrived in the past as a deep-ball thrower.
“Anytime you get the ball to your playmakers and let them do what they do in space and they get yards for you, that’s always a happy thing to see,” Lagway said.
After an open week, Gonzales and O’Hara will make their debuts Saturday, November 1, in the annual rivalry game vs. No. 5 Georgia at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ryan O’Hara to become Florida football’s new play caller: Reaction from Billy Gonzales, QB DJ Lagway
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
