Florida’s GAINESVILLE (AP) — On Monday, Florida coach Billy Napier fired two assistants, starting a much-needed defensive overhaul.

Two days after a season-ending, 24-15 loss to rival and then-No. 5 Florida State, Napier fired defensive line coach Sean Spencer and cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond, according to a person familiar with the decision. Since neither the coach nor the assistants had disclosed the changes, the source talked to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity.

For the first time since 1990, the Gators (5-7) missed a bowl berth after losing five straight games to finish the season. Florida’s defense, which allowed 41.75 points per game in the first four of those losses, was the main problem down the stretch.

Though it was too little, too late to save the assistants, the unit performed better in the final game against the Seminoles, who were missing standout quarterback Jordan Travis.

Florida’s weakest positions in 2023 were the defensive line, secondary, and offensive line. Napier made it plain that he intended to make changes in the hopes of improving a program that declined under his second season.

Under Napier, the Gators dropped to 11–14. Napier will undoubtedly be the hot topic in Gainesville come 2024.

Prior to his debut season, Napier employed Spencer and Raymond. Raymond had been at LSU since 2012, where he was one of the nation’s best secondary coaches, thus his addition was highly anticipated.

However, Florida’s pass defense finished ninth in 2023 and 11th in the Southeastern Conference in 2022. This past season, the Gators had the fewest interceptions of any team in the league with just three.

After spending six years at Penn State and two seasons with the New York Giants, Spencer, also known as “Coach Chaos,” made his way to the team. However, Florida’s run defense finished 12th in the SEC in 2022 and 11th in 2023 with Spencer in command.