GAINESVILLE — In January 2013, Dave Caldwell was launched because the Jacksonville Jaguars’ new basic supervisor, tasked with rebuilding an expansion-level terrible roster.
Quick ahead to Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. 13 years older and wiser, Caldwell began his new job as basic supervisor of the Florida Gators soccer program, tasked with rebuilding a roster that was 4-8 this season.
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And primarily based on Caldwell’s expertise in any respect ranges of an NFL staff and the way it pertains to the brand new regular in faculty soccer, Florida will be the instantaneous and long-term beneficiary, even moreso than the impression coach Jon Sumrall will make.
5 years in the past, a former NFL GM/present assistant GM leaving his defending Tremendous Bowl champion employer (Philadelphia Eagles) to assist a school soccer program that has misplaced its method would have been unlikely and complicated.
However not a lot anymore. It was time for a program like Florida to not simply assume outdoors the field, however create a brand new field.
That’s how Caldwell discovered himself on the job with a Florida pin on his swimsuit coat, attending Sumrall’s press convention, assembly with reporters, preparing for signing day on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and getting ready for the Jan. 2 opening of the switch portal.
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An NFL scout or government since 1996, Caldwell has gone again to high school.
“I really feel like that is the way in which faculty athletics has been going for a very long time,” he mentioned.
It could possibly be the way in which Florida will get again to relevance. What the Gators tried doing for the final a number of years — the pinnacle coach additionally serving because the CEO — failed. It was time for a unique mannequin.
“We felt like we had a chance to do one thing completely different in faculty soccer that might give us a bonus,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin mentioned.
Likelihood to do one thing completely different
If the Sumrall-Caldwell partnership works and Florida turns into respectable and contends for the highest few spots within the SEC and develops entertaining offenses, the Gators could also be main a pattern.
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And, actually, it makes a ton of sense. On this period of faculty soccer, the job of the pinnacle coach has so many tentacles — recruiting, the switch portal, main workers/help personnel, boosters, teaching, game-planning — why not take one thing off his plate? Have any individual function the finder of gamers and negotiator of participant contracts?
“I imagine (the function) can be a help system to serve the coaches and gamers to verify they’ve the instruments to have success,” Caldwell mentioned.
The Gators-Caldwell dance truly started final 12 months, however talks didn’t intensify. In early November, after coach Billy Napier was fired, Stricklin reached out once more to Caldwell.
Caldwell, who has continued to stay within the Jacksonville space because the Jaguars fired him in November 2020, referred to as leaving the Eagles and basic supervisor Howie Roseman (a UF alum) “a tricky choice.” However taking a look at it from his prism, getting an opportunity to be a school basic supervisor was extra engaging than ready for a second probability at being an NFL basic supervisor which will by no means materialize.
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Caldwell has spent the previous 5 seasons attending faculty video games in-person, permitting to be attune to potential portal expertise.
“(Helped) lots,” he mentioned. “I’ve a extremely good information of the present faculty gamers.”
And evaluating highschool and younger faculty gamers?
“The analysis half is simple, it’s what’s behind the analysis: Toughness. Character. Instincts,” Caldwell mentioned. “These are issues we are able to develop. (The Eagles) had been a giant traits staff (when scouting). We projected each participant three years down the highway and that’s much more essential right here as a result of gamers (in highschool) aren’t a completed product and it’s a must to undertaking 1-2 years.”
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Stricklin committing to this set-up in all probability value him a shot at hiring Lane Kiffin, who will carry his basic supervisor with him from Ole Miss to LSU. However, heck, perhaps Stricklin wasn’t all that enamored with Kiffin. Who is aware of.
What we do know is Stricklin is all-in on Caldwell supporting Sumrall within the team-building, team-maintaining effort.
“I believe Dave has an amazing persona, an amazing talent set and goes to work very well with Jon,” Stricklin mentioned.
Caldwell discovered in Philadelphia
Caldwell helped construct the Jaguars’ 2017 AFC championship recreation finalist staff. However the Jaguars didn’t win persistently sufficient and Caldwell was moved on.
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“Eight nice years in Jacksonville; some ups and downs,” he mentioned. “Didn’t finish the way in which I needed it.”
Jaguars followers who double as Gators followers are in all probability hesitant to embrace Caldwell’s involvement within the UF program, however I level to the expertise he acquired serving to the Baltimore Ravens’ draft effort in 2021 and the 5 seasons he spent with the Eagles.
Anyone with a progress mindset advantages from expertise. Caldwell is a greater government than when his Jaguars tenure ended.
“I inform folks I want I had these 5 years (with the Eagles) earlier than I went to Jacksonville,” he mentioned. “First-class proprietor (Jeffrey Lurie). Greatest GM in all of sports activities. However I left my job in Philadelphia as a result of I imagine a lot in Coach Sumrall.”
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Caldwell and Sumrall have to be aligned to revive the Gators’ program and their first goal is to maintain their head down and never take heed to the chatter about who they aren’t (Kiffin). I’m unsure about Sumrall making the soar from Tulane to Florida, however I’m positive that his probabilities of success are enhanced by Caldwell’s hiring.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com
This text initially appeared on Florida Instances-Union: Former Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell excited to affix Florida Gators
