Rob Sale - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Rob Sale

Title:
Offensive Line
Phone:
540-568-6517

Rob Sale is in his first season with the James Madison football program in 2026, as he serves as the offensive line coach.

Sale joins the Dukes with nearly two decades of coaching experience, with all but three at either the Power Four Conference level or in the NFL.

Most recently, Sale spent four seasons on Billy Napier’s staff at Florida (2022-25) where he was offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach.

During his time in Gainesville, Florida reached a pair of bowl games, highlighted by a win in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl to cap off an 8-5 season. Sale mentored one of the nation’s premier centers in Jake Slaughter, who was a two-time All-American and First Team All-SEC center.

Slaughter became just the third center in school history to be a First Team All-American when he garnered the award in 2024 and tacked on Second Team All-America status in his final season in 2025. His 2025 campaign was also spotlighted by being a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.

The 2025 season saw three offensive players earn All-SEC status, as joining First Teamer Slaughter were running back Jadan Baugh (second team) and offensive lineman Austin Barber (third team). Florida’s offense ranked 13th nationally in fumbles lost (4) and 12th in red zone offense (.917), both of which were second in the SEC.

In 2024, Sale helped guide Florida to a late-season charge, winning the last four games of the season to finish with an 8-5 record overall, with victories over No. 21 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the 16^th Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators were one of just unranked six teams in the nation to post multiple top-25 wins on the year.

In addition to Slaughter’s honors, he was joined by SEC All-Freshman Team honoree Bryce Lovett on the 2024 offensive line awards. Statistically, the offensive line helped the Gator offense rank ninth in the nation in passing yards per completion at 14.11. Florida didn’t allow a sack in four separate games this season and only allowed 20 on the season, ranking third in the SEC. UF graded as the No. 11 pass blocking team in the FBS (79.8) and was second in the SEC behind Texas.

In his second season, Sale worked with a new offensive line that featured five new players starting for the first-time at UF along with five different starting line combinations. Despite the shuffling, the Gators line earned a spot on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll, an award given to the nation’s top offensive line. Starting eight games last season and making his first career in the season opener at Utah, Jake Slaughter finished as the No. 14 center per PFF.

During his first year as Florida's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Sale directed a powerful run offense. The Gators finished the 2022 regular season as the third-most productive offense in the nation and best in the conference in yards per carry (5.84). Florida ranked 16th nationally and third in the SEC in rushing yards per game (213.7).

The efficiency by Florida's running offense reflected an offensive line mentored directly by Sale that allowed only 13 sacks in the regular season, ranking tied for second-fewest in the SEC and 16th in the FBS. The offensive line was anchored by Louisiana transfer O’Cyrus Torrence, who finished as the top-rated guard in the nation at 88.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

Torrence became first Gators offensive guard to be named a Consensus All-American, and the fifth lineman in Florida history. Torrence, who Sale and Head Coach Billy Napier recruited out of high school to play at UL, never allowed a QB hit or sack in 3,065 career snaps, including zero QB hurries or penalties in 698 snaps and 11 games started with the Gators in 2022.

In addition to Torrence finishing as PFF’s No. 1-rated guard in college football during the 2022 season, Austin Barber ranked as the No. 22 tackle in the FBS and was placed on the College Football News Freshman All-America First Team.

Sale’s offensive line unit delivered two NFL products via the 2023 NFL Draft and free agency during his first year at Florida. Torrence was drafted by Buffalo in the second round, while tackle Richard Gouraige was signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent. In total, Florida’s offense produced four NFL players during Sale’s first season as UF’s coordinator.

Sale joined the Gators after serving the 2021 season as the offensive line coach with the New York Giants. During his one season coaching in the NFL, he helped the Giants to a 9-7-1 record, which included a 6-1 start.

Prior to the NFL, Sale spent three seasons on Napier’s staff at Louisiana (2018-20), where he was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach

Sale's unit produced three NFL Draft picks out of Louisiana, including Robert Hunt and Kevin Dotson in 2020, and Max Mitchell in 2022.

In 2020, the Ragin' Cajuns offense ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference in points per game (33.6), fifth in yards per game (421.5), third in yards per play (6.3) and fourth in rushing yards per game (213.0). In 2019, Sale's offense set numerous school records, including total yards (6,918), touchdowns (69), rushing yards (3,604), rushing touchdowns (42) and passing touchdowns (27).

In his first season coaching the Louisiana offense, three players rushed for more than 700 yards each. Trey Ragas logged 1,149 yards and nine touchdowns, Elijah Mitchell led the Sun Belt with 16 touchdowns and ran for 985 yards of his own, while Raymond Calais tallied 754 yards and seven scores.

Prior to Louisiana, Sale was the offensive line coach/running game coordinator at Arizona State in 2017, when the Sun Devils averaged 31.9 points, 427.6 total yards and 179.9 rushing yards a game.

In 2016, Sale was the offensive line coach at ULM. That season, the Warhawks ranked third in the Sun Belt with 181.3 rushing yards per game and allowed just 19 sacks.

Prior to ULM, Sale was the offensive line coach at Georgia in 2015, when the Bulldogs averaged 375 yards a game. The offensive line, led by All-SEC first-team offensive tackle John Theus, helped the team rush for more than 190 rushing yards per game.

Sale spent three seasons at McNeese State (2012-14) serving as the offensive line coach for the Cowboys before being elevated to co-offensive coordinator in 2014. In his final season, the Cowboys’ offense averaged 32.4 points, 396.5 total yards and 221.9 rushing yards a game.

From 2007-11, Sale gained his first college coaching experience as a strength and conditioning assistant and offensive analyst at Alabama. He began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at Catholic High of Pointe Coupee in New Roads, La. in 2006.

Sale played in 35 career games with 25 starts at LSU. That including starting 13 games at right guard as a senior in 2022. As a junior, he started at both center and guard when the Tigers won the SEC title. During his sophomore season, he started the final five games of the regular season and the Peach Bowl at left guard.

A native of Monroe, La., Sale and his wife Amanda have two sons, Tripp and Briggs.

Sale Coaching File
2022-25: Florida (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2021: New York Giants (Offensive Line)
2018-20: Louisiana (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2017: Arizona State (Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator)
2016: ULM (Offensive Line Coach)
2015: Georgia (Offensive Line)
2014: McNeese State (Co-Offensive Coordinator)
2012-13: McNeese State (Offensive Line)
2007-11: Alabama (Strength & Conditioning Assistant/Offensive Analyst)
2006: Catholy High of Pointe Coupee (LA) (Offensive Line)