Ad Disclosure
Florida State expected to land prominent Big Ten coordinator for DC role, per report
Published:
Florida State reportedly has its man who will run the defense in 2025.
Sources told Warchant’s Gene Williams and Jeff Cameron that FSU is poised to hire Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White as its next DC. White will reportedly replace Adam Fuller, who was dismissed last month before finishing his 5th season as Florida State’s DC.
BREAKING: Sources tell Warchant that @FSUFootball is expected to name Nebraska's Tony White as next defensive coordinator.
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) December 2, 2024
Over the weekend, several media outlets reported that former Auburn and UCF head coach Gus Malzahn will be FSU’s next offensive coordinator, so the Seminoles are moving quickly to assemble their 2025 staff. Neither hire has been made official.
Under White’s watch, Nebraska’s defense currently ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense (19.8 points per game) and total defense (315.4 yards per game). During the 2023 season, Nebraska ranked 13th nationally while allowing just 18.2 points per game.
White, who is a veteran assistant coach, has been nominated for the Broyles Award in each of the past 2 seasons. The award honors the top assistant coach in college football. White has held the titles of defensive coordinator and associate head coach during his 2 seasons with the Cornhuskers alongside Matt Rhule.
Before his time at Nebraska, White was the defensive coordinator at Syracuse for 3 years. He has coached cornerbacks and linebackers during his coaching career, and he’s been a recruiting coordinator.
Last year, White’s Nebraska defense ranked No. 11 nationally in total defense at 303.5 yards per game. His Syracuse defenses ranked 18th in 2021 and 21st in 2022. Just for perspective, Florida State’s defense finished this season allowing 385.9 yards per game, which ranks 87th nationally.
As a player, White started at linebacker for 3 years at UCLA in the late 1990s and 2000, and White was a team captain during his final season at UCLA.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
