GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said Monday that he fired coach Billy Napier on Sunday because he felt now was the time in the best interests of the program long term.

He said he is launching a nationwide search to hire a new coach that can win a national championship. Stricklin said he would make the hire and be solely responsible but that he would hire TurnkeyZRG to be a partner in the search process. He said he will take suggestions from others, including the trustees and Turnkey.

"We will have a wide variety of candidates," Stricklin said, despite reports naming some possible successors, such as Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. "We want people who can win national championships."

In the interim, receivers coach Billy Gonzales will take over as

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