Florida assistant coach Jabbar Juluke suspended three games for pregame altercation
SEC and Florida announce suspension after incident before loss to LSU; coach apologizes and will miss key conference matchups
The Southeastern Conference and the University of Florida suspended associate head coach and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke for three games on Tuesday for his role in a pregame altercation ahead of Florida’s loss to LSU.
The suspension will sideline Juluke for Florida’s upcoming games against Miami, Texas and Texas A&M, the conference and school said. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the coach’s conduct was unacceptable and inconsistent with conference standards and warned that future misconduct would prompt more severe disciplinary action.
"Jabbar Juluke’s conduct during the pregame altercation reflects behavior that is unacceptable and not aligned with the standards of the Southeastern Conference," Sankey said in the statement. "Coaches are expected to be leaders and to de-escalate tense situations, and that did not happen in this circumstance. This suspension is appropriate, and any future misconduct by Jabbar Juluke will result in more severe disciplinary action."
The SEC release said players from both Florida and LSU were involved in pregame incidents but did not detail Juluke’s specific actions. Juluke issued an apology through media outlets, saying he regretted his reaction, accepted responsibility and intended to use the episode as a learning opportunity.
"I, first, would like to apologize to both Florida and LSU universities, their teams, staff and fans. I also sincerely apologize to the young athlete and his family," Juluke said, according to ESPN. "On Saturday, I reacted in a manner I'm not proud of. There's no excuse for my behavior and I take full responsibility for my actions. In this game, emotional situations occur and bad reactions happen. I regret my reaction and commit to using this moment to strengthen my emotional intelligence. I know more is expected of us as coaches, and I commit to living up to that expectation. I believe growth is in ownership and learning from the good and the bad. I intend to use this situation as a teachable moment, not only for myself, but for those I impact. Again, I offer my sincerest apologies to both institutions and the staffs and families involved."
Juluke, who has been on Florida's staff since 2022, also spent time coaching LSU's running backs in 2016. He serves as associate head coach under Florida head coach Billy Napier.
Florida and the SEC did not release a detailed account of the events that led to the suspension, and neither the university nor the conference provided video or additional documentation in the Tuesday announcement. The discipline was described as a joint action by the conference and the program.
The suspension removes Juluke from three of Florida's highest-profile games of the season, two of which are conference matchups. The Gators will need to adjust their coaching responsibilities for the running backs and related in-game duties while Juluke is sidelined.
The SEC has emphasized de-escalation and professionalism among coaches in recent years, and Sankey's statement framed the punishment as consistent with those expectations. The conference's mention of potential for stiffer penalties indicates that further investigation or additional incidents could lead to increased discipline.
Florida finished the contest against LSU with a loss; the program's statement and the SEC release focused on conduct rather than the on-field outcome. The university did not immediately announce who will assume Juluke's in-game duties during the suspension or whether any additional internal measures would be taken.
The suspension marks a significant personnel development for Florida's staff as the team prepares for a stretch of games that could shape its conference standing. The program will proceed through the designated suspension period under the terms set by the SEC and the university, and officials indicated they expect the matter to be resolved in accordance with conference policy.
Juluke's apology and the SEC's disciplinary action conclude the initial public phase of the incident; the announcement leaves open the possibility of additional consequences should further information come to light or if further misconduct occurs.