New Florida football coach Jon Sumrall moved quickly to make his first major staff move.
The Florida Gators have hired former Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White as its new defensive coordinator, the school announced on Dec. 4.
White and Sumrall worked together at Kentucky from 2019-21, when Sumrall was a linebackers coach with the Wildcats and White served as defensive coordinator.
The 43-year-old White has been defensive coordinator at Kentucky since 2019 after previous stints as outside linebackers coach at UK and in the NFL as a defensive assistant with the Indianapolis Colts from 2012-17.
“Brad is one of the best defensive minds in football and I’m thrilled he will be joining us in Gainesville,” Sumrall said. “Brad has led one of the best defenses in the SEC the last seven years and has extensive experience in the NFL as well. His defenses possess the exact characteristics we are going to have here at Florida and I can’t think of a better leader for that unit.”
Under White, Kentucky’s defense ranked 20th nationally in 2019 (322.2 ypg), 25th nationally in 2021 (340.7) and 12th nationally in 2022 (311.4 ypg). White became available when Kentucky fired head coach Mark Stoops on Nov. 30, replacing him with Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein.
This past season, UK ranked 12th in the SEC in total defense under White (374.2), but the Wildcats were impressive defensively in a 38-7 rout of Florida, picking off UF starting quarterback DJ Lagway three times in the first half while holding running back Jadan Baugh to 45 yards rushing.
Like Sumrall, White is a former collegiate linebacker who began his career at Georgia in 2000 before finishing at Wake Forest from 2001-04.
“Extremely thankful to Coach Sumrall for this exciting opportunity” White said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running on helping construct a defense that will make Gator Nation proud. Coach has already stated the vision – be the most feared defense in college football. Now comes the hard work necessary to make that vision a reality.
“And while scheme has its importance, the most critical focus we’ll have as a defensive staff will be to develop the highly-talented playmakers we recruit and demand that they play with a pace and violence second to none.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This story was updated with new information
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football hires Kentucky’s Brad White as new defensive coordinator
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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