Florida has another rising name on its staff, and this one already has a track record of climbing fast.
Greg Gasparato, the Gators’ linebackers coach, was included by The Athletic on a list of 25 rising coaches to know before the 2026 season. The list, put together by Chris Vannini, is meant to spotlight coaches who could be on the move next year, either into head coaching jobs or coordinator roles.
Vannini’s eye for this kind of thing has worked before. Last year, he highlighted Jon Sumrall and Buster Faulkner, and both ended up at Florida.
"Gasparato was Sumrall’s defensive coordinator at Troy and Tulane," Vannini wrote. "He received Power 4 coordinator interest this past cycle but followed Sumrall to Florida to coach linebackers. A P4 coordinator job could be in his future soon."
Gasparato’s rise has been tied closely to Sumrall’s path. He came aboard at Troy as defensive coordinator in 2023 and even served as interim head coach before making the move to Tulane with Sumrall. While with the Trojans, he helped produce a defense that piled up 47 sacks, setting both program and Sun Belt single-season records.
His work at Tulane only strengthened his reputation. Gasparato became one of Sumrall’s most trusted defensive voices there, with defenses that consistently brought pressure and kept explosive plays in check. That success drew Power Four coordinator interest before he decided to follow Sumrall to Gainesville.
Now back in a position coach role at Florida, Gasparato gets another stage to keep building his profile in the SEC.
In Other News...
Gators Fans Finally Get A Real Look At Sumrall's Roster Battle
Floridas Week 1 depth chart for the opener against Florida Atlantic did more than list names and positions. It marked the programs first public release of that kind in nearly two years, giving fans and the team a clearer view of where things stand heading into the new season. For a roster still taking shape under Jon Sumrall, the move offered a straightforward snapshot of roles for the contest and a little more clarity than the Gators have given the public lately.
Sumrall has made no secret of where he stands on the issue, saying he favors transparency with players about where they fit and what kind of playing time they can expect. That approach makes the depth chart more than a formality for the opener. It is a small but useful signal about how openly this staff plans to handle roster battles, and it gives Florida followers their first real look at how those decisions are being sorted out before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Basketball May Be Closing In On A Recruiting Breakthrough
Florida basketball is spending part of its recruiting energy on two of the most intriguing high school visitors in the country, with Beckham Black and Colton Hiller both making their way through Gainesville. Black, a five-star point guard in the 2027 class, arrives with plenty of attention already attached to his name as the brother of NBA player Anthony Black, while Hiller comes in as the top-ranked player in the 2028 class and has emerged as one of the sports premier young prospects.
The timing matters, too, because Florida appears to be leaning harder into marquee prep recruiting as roster turnover looms. Both prospects carry multiple offers and the sort of national profile that can change the ceiling of a class, and Hillers family ties to Florida football recruit Maxwell Hiller add another layer of familiarity to the visit. For a program trying to build momentum on the trail, this is the kind of stretch that can hint at a bigger shift in how the Gators want to construct the roster going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Tapping A Familiar Face To Open The Sumrall Era
Florida is bringing back a familiar face to help launch the Jon Sumrall era, with former running back Ciatrick Fason set to lead the honorary Mr. Two Bits cheer before the 2026 season opener against Florida Atlantic. Fason, now a high school head coach, remains connected to the program and has spoken warmly about Sumrall, while also weighing in on the Gators recent play as the new staff gets ready for its first game in charge.
The opener is set for 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network, giving Florida a primetime stage to start resetting the tone around the program. The Mr. Two Bits moment is a small piece of the night, but it fits the broader sense that the Gators are trying to blend tradition with a fresh start, and Fasons role adds a little extra weight to a game that already carries plenty of curiosity. [Read more 🡒]