The University of Florida football program announced on Monday the appointment of Nick Polk as Associate Athletic Director and Football General Manager, alongside Benjamin Elsner, who will serve as Director of Football Strategy. Both additions aim to enhance the operational and strategic aspects of the Gators’ football program.
Polk, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both college football and the NFL, will oversee the front office, managing various responsibilities such as revenue sharing, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) allocation, contract negotiations, football budgets, and roster management. He will also work closely with football personnel to strengthen team operations. Elsner, who will work alongside Polk, will focus on salary cap management and contract negotiations while spearheading efforts in analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize team strategy and decision-making.
Head coach Billy Napier expressed enthusiasm about Polk’s hiring, emphasizing his leadership skills and wealth of experience. “Nick’s background in coaching and his extensive NFL experience will be invaluable to our organization,” said Napier. “This is a significant step forward for the Gators as we build a championship program.”
Polk brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, having spent 17 years with the Atlanta Falcons. His tenure with the Falcons included positions as Director of Football Administration and Director of Football Operations, where he managed salary cap issues, contract proposals, player transactions, and league compliance. During his time with the Falcons, Polk contributed to the team’s success, including three NFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl run in 2017.
“I’m honored and privileged to join the Florida Gators,” Polk said. “The alignment of leadership here is evident, and I’m excited to work with Coach Napier, our coaches, administrators, players, and staff to help build a championship program.”
Before joining the Falcons, Polk served in various roles within the NFL League offices, including three years as Director of Football Administration for NFL Europe. He also has significant college coaching experience, having served as the head coach at Lock Haven University, among other roles at Delaware State, Brown, James Madison, and Southern Connecticut State.
Elsner joins the Gators after nearly five years as Chief of Staff at The 33rd Team, a football analysis platform offering in-depth insights on NFL teams. His previous roles included working as a head scout for NFL and college football players, gaining invaluable knowledge on team-building strategies from former executives and coaches.
“Ben is an emerging talent in our field with unique and valuable experience,” Napier noted. “He will be instrumental in salary cap management, contract negotiations, and applying analytics to further enhance our football operations. His work will be crucial in ensuring that we continue evolving and implementing best practices across the program.”
Elsner expressed his excitement about the opportunity to join the Gators, praising Napier’s vision for the program. “I’m thrilled to join Coach Napier’s staff and contribute to building a sustainable, championship-caliber program, both on and off the field,” Elsner said.
In other news, following 12 consecutive sold-out games at The Swamp, fans can now secure season tickets for the 2025 football season, which includes matchups against LIU, South Florida, Texas, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Florida State.
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