GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida head coach Billy Napier announced Wednesday the addition of Craig Fitzgerald to the staff as the Gators’ new director of football performance.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Craig and his family — his wife, Mary, and sons, Mac, Joe and Luke, to Gainesville and to the UF community,” Napier said. “We’re very excited to add Coach Fitz to our team. He brings a significant level of experience in both college and the NFL. He will help each player on our team reach their potential. His reputation precedes itself and we are excited about the leadership he will bring and the impact he will have on our entire organization.”
“I’m extremely excited to join coach Napier and his staff, and to be part of Gator Nation,” Fitzgerald said. “I look forward to being part of such a storied program and can’t wait to get to work.”
A veteran of more than 25 years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels, Fitzgerald has led strength and performance departments at several SEC institutions, and two NFL teams. His tenure in the NFL stretches across eight years of combined experience. He was also instrumental in revamping strength and conditioning regimens at Penn State, South Carolina and Tennessee to make players bigger, faster, stronger and more explosive.
Fitzgerald joins the Gators after spending four seasons with the New York Giants. During his first year in New York, Fitzgerald’s thorough and consistent analysis and customized training regiments led to the largest reduction of football injuries from the previous season in the NFL in 2020. His approach to prioritize injury prevention helped the Giants finish second in NFC East that season.
Fitzgerald joined the Giants after a two-year stint at the University of Tennessee, where he served as the director of football sports performance. In 2019, the Volunteers improved from 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the Southeastern Conference to 8-5 – including a Gator Bowl victory against Indiana – and 5-3 in the conference.
In his first season with the program in 2018, Fitzgerald’s strength program helped the Vols to two upset victories over ranked opponents Auburn and Kentucky. Prior to his tenure in Knoxville, Fitzgerald was the head strength and conditioning coach of the Houston Texans from 2014-17. He helped Houston win back-to-back AFC South division championships in 2015 and 2016, while putting together three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in…
“We’re thrilled to welcome Craig and his family — his wife, Mary, and sons, Mac, Joe and Luke, to Gainesville and to the UF community,” Napier said. “We’re very excited to add Coach Fitz to our team. He brings a significant level of experience in both college and the NFL. He will help each player on our team reach their potential. His reputation precedes itself and we are excited about the leadership he will bring and the impact he will have on our entire organization.”
“I’m extremely excited to join coach Napier and his staff, and to be part of Gator Nation,” Fitzgerald said. “I look forward to being part of such a storied program and can’t wait to get to work.”
A veteran of more than 25 years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels, Fitzgerald has led strength and performance departments at several SEC institutions, and two NFL teams. His tenure in the NFL stretches across eight years of combined experience. He was also instrumental in revamping strength and conditioning regimens at Penn State, South Carolina and Tennessee to make players bigger, faster, stronger and more explosive.
Fitzgerald joins the Gators after spending four seasons with the New York Giants. During his first year in New York, Fitzgerald’s thorough and consistent analysis and customized training regiments led to the largest reduction of football injuries from the previous season in the NFL in 2020. His approach to prioritize injury prevention helped the Giants finish second in NFC East that season.
Fitzgerald joined the Giants after a two-year stint at the University of Tennessee, where he served as the director of football sports performance. In 2019, the Volunteers improved from 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the Southeastern Conference to 8-5 – including a Gator Bowl victory against Indiana – and 5-3 in the conference.
In his first season with the program in 2018, Fitzgerald’s strength program helped the Vols to two upset victories over ranked opponents Auburn and Kentucky. Prior to his tenure in Knoxville, Fitzgerald was the head strength and conditioning coach of the Houston Texans from 2014-17. He helped Houston win back-to-back AFC South division championships in 2015 and 2016, while putting together three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in…
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