re: "Recruiting Season" 2023 Class

Napier thankful for Hugh Hathcock as Gator Guard grows UF's NIL war chest
Zach Abolverdi

Hugh Hathcock (left) with his wife Kalah and Florida coach Billy Napier. (Photo courtesy of Hathcock)

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Billy Napier wasn’t the only person who received a round of applause from a sold-out crowd at his speech in Orlando.

The other was automotive industry innovator and longtime Gators donor Hugh Hathcock, sitting in the front row with his wife, Kalah.

As he addressed the room, Napier took a moment to recognize Hathcock for his investment in Florida Athletics and his football program.

“The word booster, I like to think in terms of the word investor. I think sometimes that gets overlooked here,” Napier told Gators Online prior to his Orlando speech.
“Hugh has obviously done a lot to help our program and the University of Florida in general. I can’t thank the guy enough. He’s an absolute professional and a guy that has passion for Florida.”

Hathcock has supported Gator Boosters for decades, dating back to his early contributions for the construction of Touchdown Terrace. He recently made the single largest financial gift in the organization’s history: $12.6 million.

“This record-setting gift is another example of Hugh’s unwavering commitment and support,” Phil Pharr, Gator Boosters Executive Director, said at the time.
So was Hathcock’s next endeavor.

With name, image and likeness sweeping college sports, he wanted to provide support specifically for that space. That culminated in the formation of the Gator Guard, which was created by Hathcock on April 21.

He launched it with $1 million of his own money and raised a total of $5 million in 24 hours. The following day, that donation provided new NIL contracts for four of Florida’s top football players — with about 50 more expected to sign deals.

“Student-athletes need to know that if they come to Florida, they’re going have the best education, facilities, coaches, culture and NIL opportunities,” Hathcock said. “I’ve been following NIL for years and talking to coaches about it. We knew it was coming and, like it or not, this ain’t going away. It might be regulated in two or three years, but the reality of it is, it’s here now.

“If we don’t have a plan for it, we’re gonna get behind. And if we don’t get NIL right, we’re not going to win. This is what it’s going to take for us to win championships. The Gator Guard is going to get 20 or 30 big guys that want to take us quickly to the number we need.”
Gator Guard goals

Napier has a goal of a $20 million annual war chest for NIL deals, which will be funded by the Gator Guard. Hathcock’s mission is to recruit a group of high-net-worth investors, as Napier calls them, to donate at least $1 million apiece.
Hathcock understands that many fans are turned off by NIL and will be hesitant to give money.

“There’s a lot of older-money Gator fans that don’t even want to talk about NIL. They hate it. They think it’s ruining the sport and they want it to be like it was when [Steve] Spurrier was here, right? And I get it,” Hathcock said. “There are some people that have the funds, and they just are too conservative. They just don’t believe in NIL and kids getting paid from it.

“I’ll have to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with them and say you’re right, but guess what? We can’t change the present. We can’t change the position that college sports is in. It’s our reality now and this is what we gotta do. If a Gator fan has $100 million, when he gets through talking to me, he’s gonna understand why he needs to give a million of that to Gator Guard.”

That being said, Hathcock has been in contact with more potential donors who don’t need convincing. They are all-in on NIL and want to be a part of Gator Guard.

He added, however, that not all of them will be publicized.

“As we raise more, you’re not gonna hear me going on the Internet and doing this numbers game,” Hathcock said. “Some people are going to give money for this, and they don’t want their name out there.”

Napier met privately with Hathcock and his wife prior to his speech in Orlando, where he encouraged more fans to get involved in NIL. Thanks to the Gator Guard, nearly 70 of his players will be under contract in the coming weeks.

“I think the landscape is changing. I think we’re very fortunate that we’ve got people who have passion for this place and understand that landscape relative to competition. I think it’s just another area that affects the end result,” Napier told Gators Online. “I’m convinced at the University of Florida that name, image and likeness can be a strength. You’ve seen that with the Gator Collective. You’ve seen that with the Gator Guard. And there are numerous other people who have contributed along the way.”

Hathcock set the bar high last month and established Florida as an NIL power with Gator Guard. He is willing to invest — to use Napier’s term — into the football program due in part to his belief in the first-year coach.

“Most of the time, if you’re in business and you’ve got a good plan and you execute it and you hire the right people, guess what? Your business succeeds. Most people don’t have a plan. They don’t have capital. They don’t have the ability to lead somebody. Billy’s got all this. He just needs to get the players, and I really think he’s a guy,” Hathcock said.

“There is a sincerity and authenticity with Billy that you can feel. And you know by watching the guy that he’s got the mindset to make this happen. He’s gotta have great coaches and he does. Now he has to have the resources. His (NIL) goal is reachable. Once I get out there, plenty of people will buy into that to get Billy the support he needs.”

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