Billy Napier isn’t wasting any time putting his fingerprints all over the James Madison program. Less than a week after being introduced as the Dukes’ new head coach, he’s raiding his old Florida staff and making moves that show he’s serious about turning JMU into a legitimate contender. The biggest splash? Landing a defensive coordinator who learned under Nick Saban and turned down multiple bigger opportunities to come to Harrisonburg.​

James Madison is set to hire Robert Bala as defensive coordinator under Napier, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Bala served as co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach under Napier at Florida during the 2025 season before new Gators head coach Jon Sumrall chose not to retain him on his staff. 

The reunion makes perfect sense. Napier knows exactly what he’s getting in Bala, a defensive mind he trusted enough to promote to co-DC in Gainesville. What makes this hire even more impressive is that Bala chose JMU over multiple Power Four assistant coaching opportunities. He also believes in what Napier is building with the Dukes.​

Bala’s coaching pedigree is what makes this such a coup for James Madison. Before joining Billy Napier at Florida, Bala coached inside linebackers at Alabama in 2023 under Nick Saban. That season, Bala helped guide the Crimson Tide to a 12-2 record, an SEC championship, and a College Football Playoff berth while Alabama’s defense ranked 16th nationally.

Working under Saban is like getting a master’s degree in defensive football. And Bala absorbed everything he could from the legend. After his one season in Tuscaloosa, Bala wasn’t retained when Kalen DeBoer took over for the retired Saban. But he quickly landed on his feet in Washington for the 2024 season.​

At Washington, Bala continued to prove his coaching chops by developing one of the Huskies’ top position groups. He mentored starting linebackers Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala, who earned third-team and honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, respectively. Backup Khmori House was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American.

When Billy Napier brought Bala to Florida in March 2025, it was part of a defensive staff overhaul that saw the Gators hire multiple co-defensive coordinators alongside veteran Ron Roberts. Bala was officially named co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, giving him significant responsibility in coordinating Florida’s defense.

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“I’m excited about Coach Bala joining our staff,” Napier said at the time. “He loves the game of football and brings passion and detail at every opportunity. He is a great teacher and has a great understanding of the big picture. He will help the Gators continue to improve.” 

Bala expressed similar enthusiasm. He said he was “humbled and grateful for the opportunity” and couldn’t “wait to start working with these great players and make Gator Nation proud.” For JMU, landing someone with Bala’s experience, SEC pedigree, and recruiting connections is a massive win. Just as Florida is going through an overhaul, the Dukes add another Gators staff member.  

Billy Napier brings another confidant to the Sun Belt

A few days ago, CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer reported UF General Manager for Player Personnel Jacob LaFrance will reunite with Billy Napier at JMU. The new role will be Duke’s Associate AD for Football Personnel.

“James Madison plans to hire Florida GM Jacob LaFrance as Associate AD for Football Personnel, a source tells @CBSSports . UF signed back-to-back top 10 classes in ’24 & ’25 under LaFrance’s direction. Also helped Louisiana sign three No. 1 classes in the Sun Belt from 2019-21.”

LaFrance spent the last four seasons with the Gators and also three of Napier’s four seasons at Louisiana. He was the first former employee who switched allegiance from Florida to James Madison. The reason he is not handling GM duties is that the Gators have already hired former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell as their new GM.

So, JMU and Billy Napier have already raided Florida twice now, and with the transfer portal opening up, it will be interesting to see how it pans out.