Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White spoke with UCLA alumni and UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond on a Sunday call, according to The Athletic reporter Ira Gorawara.
White has constantly been tied to the Bruins since the firing of second-year head coach DeShaun Foster, due to his former ties to UCLA and his constant rise amongst the college football coaching ranks. Now it looks like he wants his chance to bring back the Bruins. Here’s what Gorawara reported.
“(White) wants to be the next coach,” Gorawara reported a former UCLA player on the call said. “He didn’t say that, but … you could just tell by his energy.”
The former Bruins three-year starting linebacker has made his way around the college football landscape as a coach. White started his collegiate coaching career as a graduate student with the Bruins in the 2007 season and consistently moved up the ranks with coaching jobs in places like New Mexico, San Diego State, Arizona State, Syracuse, Nebraska and Florida State.
Over the years, he earned himself two Broyle award nominations for the best assistant coach, according to the Seminoles.
The Seminoles currently have one of the best defenses in college football to start the 2025 season. Florida State’s ranked in the top 15 for points allowed per game with 10 points per game, according to ESPN.
The impressive feats for the defense started with a season-opening win over the Alabama Crimson Tide with a blowout 31-17 victory over one of the most highly viewed collegiate programs.
If White truly wants to be the next head coach, he could help turn the defense around, especially after the recent mutual parting of Ikaika Malloe with UCLA on Wednesday. The Bruins could use an upcoming, talented coordinator and a former Bruin should help his case.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Speculation grows about former UCLA player wanting to become head coach for Bruins
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
