BREAKING:FSU hires Tony White from Nebraska as next defensive coordinator

BREAKING:FSU hires Tony White from Nebraska as next defensive coordinator

With National Signing Day rapidly approaching on Wednesday, Florida State coach Mike Norvell has locked up both his offensive and defensive coordinators for the 2025 season.

As Warchant reported first Monday morning, the Seminoles targeted Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White for that position in Tallahassee, and White agreed to a contract on Monday afternoon. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, it is a three-year contract.

Here is the release from FSU about Malzahn’s hiring:

Florida State has hired renowned offensive innovator Gus Malzahn as the football program’s next offensive coordinator, head coach Mike Norvell announced Monday.

Malzahn, who has 19 years of experience as a head coach or offensive coordinator at the FBS level, most recently spent the last four seasons leading the football program at UCF where his team produced a top-10 rushing attack and top-20 total offense each of the last three years. His extensive resume includes a national championship, another National Championship Game appearance, three conference championships and eight conference championship game appearances. He has a record of 105-62 as a collegiate head coach and is the only coach to earn 100 wins as an FBS head coach and as a high school head coach.

As head coach, he led Auburn to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game behind an offense that was the first SEC team to lead the country in rushing yards per game and only the second SEC offense to top 7,000 total yards in a season. As offensive coordinator, he directed offenses that showcased Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden. He has coached 17 1,000-yard rushers, including in each of the last two seasons at UCF, and three times has produced multiple 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. His 2007 Tulsa offense, with Norvell serving as his graduate assistant, produced three 1,000-yard receivers, a 5,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher.

Malzahn’s offenses have averaged 447.7 yards of total offense per game over his 19 years as an offensive coordinator or head coach. He has directed offenses that eclipsed 5,000 yards of total offense 16 times, with eight seasons above 6,000 yards and three totaling more than 7,000 yards. His offenses have shown the ability to adapt to strengths year-over-year, evidenced by eight years with more than 3,000 passing yards, including three with more than 4,000 yards passing, and seven seasons with 3,000 rushing

yards.