William Peagler - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

William Peagler

Title:
Running Backs
Phone:
540-568-6517

William Peagler is in his first season with the James Madison football program in 2026, as he serves as the running backs coach.

Peagler joins Billy Napier’s staff at JMU after serving on his staff on three separate occasions, including twice at Florida, while also having a coaching stint in the National Football League with the Arizona Cardinals.

He’s served in multiple roles across power four conference teams and has been a collegiate coach since 2010.

Most recently, Peagler was an offensive analyst at Florida during the 2025 season. In the role, he was in charge of all support staff recruiting, scripting defensive looks in practice and coordinating the defensive scout team. UF’s offense ranked 13th nationally in fumbles lost (4) and 12th in red zone offense (.917), both of which were second in the SEC.

He was also Florida’s tight ends coach during the 2022 season, helping the Gators to a berth in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. In that season, Florida was top 30 nationally in six offensive categories, including fifth in yards per completion (14.62), 19th in fumbles lost (5), 23rd in sacks allowed (1.23), 24th in rushing yards (200.2), 25th in fewest turnovers (14) and 29th in tackles for loss allowed (4.54). UF led the SEC in the first two categories.

In between his time with the Gators, Peagler spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as assistant defensive line coach with the Arizona Cardinals. In this position, he was involved in all phases and implementation of the defensive game plan, primarily responsible for game planning third down and assisting all phases of special teams. He coached Dante Stills to leading the defensive line in both seasons, making a combined 89 tackles and 8.0 sacks.

Before Florida, Peagler was director of offensive quality control and interim running backs coach at Colorado (2019). In his lone season in Boulder, he was charged with all elements of opponent scouting, self-scouting and day-to-day operations of the offense while implementing an offensive game plan. He also coached the running backs through fall camp and the first four games, leading to a 3-1 start. He helped develop Laviska Shenault to Second Team All-Pac-12 honors at receiver, and he was later a second round draft choice by Jacksonville in the 2020 NFL Draft. He also helped develop Steven Montez, who threw for over 2,600 yards and 15 touchdowns before being signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent.

Peagler first worked with Napier in 2018 as director of player personnel and quality control coordinator, where he oversaw day-to-day operations of the recruiting and football support staffs. He also developed a recruiting strategy and evaluation process for incoming players. His efforts led to Louisiana bringing in the Sun Belt’s top recruiting class in 2018, winning the SBC west division and reaching the Cure Bowl.

He also had Division I stints at Georgia (2017) as a graduate assistant and Minnesota (2016) as an offensive quality control coach. He began his career as tight ends coach and special teams at Valdosta State (2010) and a graduate assistant at Louisiana (2011-13). Before his jump to the FBS ranks in a full-time capacity, Peagler served as offensive coordinator at Jones County Junior College (2015-16), Olive Branch High School (MS) (2015) and Coffeyville Community College (2014). He also coached the offensive line at all three schools.

A native of Santee, S.C., Peagler graduated from Clemson in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management.

While an undergrad, Peagler served as a student assistant from 2006-09, where he worked with the quarterbacks (2008-09), tight ends (2007) and defense (2006). He acted as the head of the Tiger Pride Recruiting Organization and was part of Clemson’s four bowl berths, including winning the 2009 Music City Bowl after claiming the ACC Atlantic Division.