Thu Dec 04 20:40:00 UTC 2025: Gators Land Kentucky’s Brad White as Defensive Coordinator

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – New Florida Gators head football coach Jon Sumrall wasted no time filling a crucial role on his staff, announcing the hiring of Brad White as the team’s defensive coordinator on Thursday.

Sumrall, who began his introductory press conference by thanking Tulane University for allowing him to coach in the AAC Championship and expressing his family’s excitement for the Gators, brings White from the University of Kentucky, where he spent the last eight years. White served as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator for seven of those years.

Sumrall and White previously worked together at Kentucky from 2019 to 2021, even sharing the co-defensive coordinator title in their final year together. Sumrall left for Troy in 2022 before taking the Tulane job.

Under White’s leadership, Kentucky boasted a top-25 defense nationally four times, including a sixth-place ranking in 2018. That year saw edge rusher Josh Allen record 17 sacks and five forced fumbles before being drafted seventh overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.

Allen praised White as “a great person, a great communicator,” adding, “He was my positional coach when I had him, and the time we spent together helped me develop and be where I am today. I give him a lot of credit and a lot of respect and love.”

Liam Coen, the Jaguars’ current offensive coordinator who faced White’s defense daily as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2023, lauded him as “one of the smarter guys I’ve been around at any level.” He added that White is a “true teacher of the game” who is highly detailed and organized.

Sumrall is expected to implement a 3-4 defensive scheme at Florida, emphasizing linebacker play to highlight the talents of players like Myles Graham, Jaden Robinson, and Aaron Chiles.

While the defensive coordinator position is filled, Sumrall’s attention will now shift to finding an offensive coordinator. Georgia Tech’s Buster Faulkner is reportedly a candidate for the job. Sumrall expressed his desire for a dynamic offense, stating, “I may be a defensive guy, but I want to be more of a defensive guy like … Bob Stoops. I want the scoreboard to light up.”

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