Jon Sumrall may be heading to Gainesville, but he’s making sure he leaves something meaningful behind in New Orleans. As he prepares to take over at Florida, Sumrall and his wife, Ginny, are giving Tulane football a parting gift that goes beyond wins and losses-a $100,000 donation to the Green Wave Talent Fund, the school’s NIL collective.
It’s a move that speaks volumes about Sumrall’s connection to Tulane and the city. He’s not just passing the torch-he’s fueling it for the next guy.
That guy is Will Hall, who’s stepping in as the new head coach of the Green Wave. And thanks to the Sumralls’ donation, Hall enters with a little more firepower when it comes to building his roster and supporting student-athletes.
“Tulane University and New Orleans are special to me and my family,” Sumrall said in a statement. “Ginny and I are honored to support the Green Wave Talent Fund because we believe in the vision of Tulane Athletics and want to contribute to the continued success of its student-athletes.”
Sumrall didn’t stop there. He gave Hall a strong endorsement, calling out his passion for the program and his commitment to helping players reach their full potential.
“He has our family’s full support,” Sumrall added. “We wish him nothing but success as he leads Tulane Football.”
It’s not just a classy exit-it’s a strategic one. NIL is the new frontier in college football, and Sumrall knows it.
By leaving behind a six-figure donation, he’s helping Tulane stay competitive in a landscape where talent retention and recruitment increasingly hinge on NIL opportunities. And the Green Wave Talent Fund doesn’t just support football-it also benefits men’s and women’s basketball and baseball.
This isn’t the first time the Sumralls have opened their wallets for Tulane, either. In 2024, they joined the Olive & Blue Society through a recurring philanthropic commitment to the athletics department. This latest donation is just another sign that their support runs deep.
On the field, Sumrall’s impact has been just as significant. After a strong two-year run at Troy, he took over at Tulane in 2024 and led the program to new heights.
In just two seasons, he posted a 20-7 record and delivered Tulane’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. The Green Wave punched their ticket to the CFP with an 11-2 season and a win over North Texas in the American Championship Game.
And Sumrall isn’t done yet. Though he’s already accepted the Florida job, he’ll stick with Tulane through the postseason.
The Green Wave are set to face No. 6 Ole Miss in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec.
- It’s a rematch of a regular-season clash that didn’t go Tulane’s way-Ole Miss won that one 45-10-but this time, Lane Kiffin won’t be on the sidelines for the Rebels.
Sumrall’s decision to stay with Tulane through the playoff run says a lot about how he views unfinished business-and loyalty. He’s not rushing out the door. He’s finishing what he started, then handing the keys to a coach he believes in, with a financial boost to match.
It’s the kind of move that makes it hard for even rival fans to root against him. Kentucky fans, in particular, might be feeling a little conflicted.
Sumrall played there, coached there, and now he’s coaching one of their SEC rivals. But gestures like this make it clear-he’s not just chasing the next big job.
He’s building something everywhere he goes.
Come next November, when Florida visits Kroger Field, the reception might be a little less warm. But for now, Sumrall’s legacy at Tulane is secure-and he’s making sure the program is in good hands, with the resources to keep climbing.