James Madison hires fired Florida coach Billy Napier to take over for Bob Chesney

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — James Madison has hired former Florida coach Billy Napier to replace Bob Chesney, who is leaving for UCLA but would coach the Dukes in the College Football Playoff if they make the 12-team field.

Napier, who was 22-23 in four seasons at Florida, was fired Oct. 19. Chesney, who coached JMU to a 12-1 record and Sun Belt Conference championship, was officially announced as UCLA's new coach on Saturday.

The Dukes, No. 19 in The Associated Press poll and No. 25 in the CFP rankings, will find out Sunday if they are in the playoff.

“We are humbled and honored to accept this incredible opportunity to be the head football coach at the James Madison University,” Napier said in a statement. “I’ve been blown away with the alignment & vision at JMU. There is dynamic leadership in this administration. Our team, staff and entire organization will work daily to promote a program with integrity and class that will be a source of pride for all of us. More importantly, we will build a culture that is centered around making an impact on our players as people, as students and on the field as elite athletes."

JMU is in only its fourth season in the Bowl Subdivision and has a combined record of 40-10 under Curt Cignetti and Chesney. The Dukes are in line for a third straight bowl if they don't make the playoff.

“We embrace the expectations and are excited about the challenge ahead," Napier said. “We will assemble a special group of people and immediately get to work building a great program.”

Napier was one of the top up-and-coming coaches as he led Louisiana-Lafayette to a 40-12 record from 2018-21 with four appearances in the Sun Belt title game.

His move to the Southeastern Conference was humbling. He had two straight losing seasons with Florida before going 8-5 in 2024. The Gators were 3-4 when Napier was fired. He finished 12-16 in SEC games and 5-17 against ranked opponents, including 0-14 away from home.

Napier is 62-35 as head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette and Florida, and he will be expected to continue the Dukes' run of dominance under Chesney, who was 21-5 in two seasons.

“We strive for excellence and maximum success every day and understand that this type of coaching transition can be the price for that success," athletic director Matt Roan said. “The challenge and opportunity is to reload and keep taking steps to ‘level up’ the trajectory of the JMU football program, and we are confident that we’ve done that with the hiring of Coach Napier.”

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FILE - Florida head coach Billy Napier watches his team line up against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft, File)

COTONOU, Benin (AP) — A group of soldiers has appeared on Benin ’s state TV announcing the dissolution of the government in an apparent coup, the latest of many in West Africa.

The group, which called itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, on Sunday announced the removal of the president and all state institutions.

Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri has been appointed president of the military committee, the soldiers said.

President Patrice Talon had been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after the presidential election.

Talon’s party pick, former Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, was the favorite to win the election. Opposition candidate Renaud Agbodjo was rejected by the electoral commission on the grounds that he did not have sufficient sponsors.

Last month, the country’s legislature extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years, keeping the term limit at two.

The coup is the latest in a string of military takeovers that have rocked West Africa. Last week, a military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo after a contested election in which both he and the opposition candidate declared themselves winners.

FILE - Benin's President Patrice Talon attends a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)