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Florida State football coach Mike Norvell is hard at work trying to rebuild his coaching staff after a miserable 2-10 season. This past weekend brought the news that UCF head coach Gus Malzahn is set to join Norvell's staff as his offensive coordinator, and now his defensive coordinator target has come to light. That would be Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White, according to Pete Nakos of On3.
ESPN's Pete Thamel confirms that Florida State is in discussions to hire White. While there are “details to still work out,” the expectation is this hire will be completed. Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports and 247Sports also says the deal should happen “soon.”
The Seminoles need an overhaul on both sides of the ball after their disastrous 2024 campaign. Florida State football scored just 15.4 points per game and allowed 28.0 points per game, with the season ending in an ugly 31-11 loss to rival Florida. The Seminoles lost seven games by double figures this season, including a 52-3 loss to Notre Dame at the beginning of November.
White will join Florida State after two seasons as Matt Rhule's defensive coordinator at Nebraska. The 45-year-old former NFL player has also held defensive coordinator roles at Syracuse and Arizona State. He got his start as a coach in the high school ranks before moving up to college, with the bulk of his college coaching career coming at San Diego State.
The Cornhuskers finished their regular season 6-6 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten, ending a lengthy bowl drought in the process. White's defense played well, with Nebraska ranking 20th in scoring defense at 19.8 points per game.
Norvell is hoping this revamped coaching staff will help jolt Florida State football. It was a shocking fall from grace in 2024 after a 13-1 2023, marking the first time since before Bobby Bowden the program suffered a 10-loss season.
