Florida Gators Assistant Coach Profiles: Who is Jay Bateman?

Photograph: Jay Bateman; Credit score: Alex Shepherd

When Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier was launched because the workforce’s subsequent head coach, he promised the Gator Nation an “military” when describing his incoming teaching employees. 

The employees would encompass assistants who’ve gotten recognition across the faculty soccer world as a number of the greatest within the recreation.

“We’ll rent a military of individuals right here,” Napier stated on Dec. 5 final 12 months. “We’ll create an infrastructure not solely within the personnel division but additionally from an on-campus recruiting, inventive media, title, picture and likeness. We’ll create — we have got an incredible imaginative and prescient for the group that we’ll create right here.”

Napier, in fact, was referring not solely to the assistant coaches that he would ultimately lock-in but additionally to the large help employees – comprised of 48 people that have been ultimately introduced on to assist construct out the employees.

With that stated, over the subsequent couple of weeks, we at AllGators can be releasing profiles to get to know every assistant coach, together with their background, recruiting historical past, quotes and extra.

Subsequent up is Florida’s inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman, who comes with an in depth teaching historical past.

Background data:

Bateman, 48, involves Florida with an in depth 24-year teaching historical past. He was employed by Florida formally on Jan. 18.

Bateman started his teaching profession as an assistant at Benedictine Excessive College, a navy college in Richmond (Va). He would spend three years there from 1995-97. After that, Bateman would dip his toes within the collegiate teaching area, beginning at Hampden-Sydney as a graduate assistant in 1997-98.

After a few years there, Bateman would be part of Siena School, first as this system’s defensive coordinator (1999) after which as this system’s head coach (2000-03).

Bateman would bounce round a bit from then, changing into Richmond’s assistant secondary coach (2004) and Lehigh’s defensive position coach (2005) earlier than settling down at Elon as this system’s defensive coordinator/linebackers coach (2006-10). 

He’d transfer on to Ball State from then because the workforce’s defensive coordinator (2011-13), earlier than changing into Military’s defensive coordinator (2014-18). After that, he’d land at his most-recent put up at North Carolina as this system’s co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach (2019-21).

Recruiting historical past:

Bateman’s recruiting historical past is spectacular if solely as a result of position he held at North Carolina over the previous few years. He was this system’s main recruiter for among the best gamers within the nation in 2021, defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver. Silver was rated because the No. 31 participant within the nation in ’21.

He, together with NC’s Mack Brown, helped get the Tarheels the No. 8 recruiting class within the nation in 2021. Throughout his profession, Bateman was accountable as the first recruiter for six four-star or larger gamers, together with Silver.

Although circuitously coached by Bateman, NC linebacker Chazz Surratt heard his title referred to as within the 2021 NFL Draft, chosen within the third spherical by the Minnesota Vikings. This system additionally noticed defensive lineman Jason Strowbridge get chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

The way it’s going:

Bateman has already seen his recruiting prowess and flexibility put to work at Florida, being one of many secondary recruiters for 2023 WR commit Creed Whittemore.

Bateman is the first recruiter for IMG Academy LB Jordan Corridor as properly, who’s planning to go to this system on June 3. One other participant who Bateman, and his operating mate, Mike Peterson, are in on is Andrew Jackson (Fla.) LB Grayson Howard.

Although it hasn’t all come to fruition but, given Bateman’s teaching expertise and experience, it needs to be straightforward to see how his stint at Florida will possible go shifting ahead.

Quotable:

“That man, he’s going to be mad at me, he’s not the best-looking man, however he is aware of what he’s speaking about, although. He’s undoubtedly introduced lots of swagger to the room. Undoubtedly love joking with him. Simply what he is aware of, he’s achieved an incredible job. He’s placing us in place.” – Gators LB Ventrell Miller on Bateman.

Keep tuned to AllGators for steady protection of Florida Gators soccer, basketball and recruiting. Observe alongside on social media at @SI_AllGators on Twitter and Florida Gators on Sports activities Illustrated on Fb.