By Mike Bonts, Florida Sports Wire
TALLAHASSEE – On December 2, Florida State hired renowned offensive innovator and former UCF and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator.
“I’m extremely excited to have Gus Malzahn join our staff at Florida State,” FSU head coach Mike said. “He has one of the most innovative minds in college football and a proven track record of developing elite offenses everywhere he’s been. His offenses have consistently showcased a tremendous running game combined with explosive plays through the air. I’m thrilled to work side-by-side with Gus again as we elevate the Florida State offense back to one of the elite groups in college football.”
Since then, Florida State has added Tony White as defensive coordinator, offensive line coach Herb Hand, Evan Cooper as safeties coach, Terrance Knighton as defensive line coach, and John Papuchis will shift to coach linebackers.
White, a two-time Broyles Award nominee for the nation’s best assistant coach, has produced a top-25 defense in each of the last four seasons at two different schools and held opponents to 20 or fewer points 25 times, including 15 times in 24 games over the past two seasons. From 2021-24, White’s defense held its opponent to less than 100 rushing yards in 25 games and 15 times held the opponent to less than 75 rushing yards. His recruiting acumen has been recognized with three Recruiter of the Year awards.
“I’m excited to bring Tony White into the Nole Family in such an important role on our staff,” Norvell said. “His aggressive, innovative defensive scheme provides opportunities for playmakers to shine and is extremely difficult on opposing offenses. Tony has a proven track record coordinating elite defenses against some of the best competition in the country, and I’m looking forward to his impact on our return to the Florida State standard.”
White comes to Florida State after two seasons as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Nebraska. He made an immediate impact on the Huskers in his first season by directing the program’s best defensive season since joining the Big Ten more than a decade earlier. Nebraska allowed only 92.9 rushing yards per game, the eighth-best rushing defense in the country in 2023 and the best at Nebraska this century, while also ranking 11th nationally in total defense and 13th in scoring defense.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to join Coach Norvell and the Florida State football program,” White said. “Florida State is an elite institution both academically and athletically with a historic football program that has produced some of the best teams in the sport. My family and I are looking forward to being able to add to that tradition with Coach Norvell, a person and leader I respect for the success he’s had and the way he does it.”
Hand reunites with Norvell, who he coached with at Tulsa, and FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who he has previously worked with at Tulsa, Auburn and UCF. Hand has coached offensive lines that blocked for rushers that broke the program’s career rushing records at West Virginia, Tulsa and Vanderbilt and, most recently, helped RJ Harvey post the second-highest career rushing total in UCF history.
“I’m excited to bring Herb Hand on staff as our offensive line coach,” Norvell said. “He has a remarkable career and has demonstrated the ability to develop offensive line units that allow for playmakers to shine. I’ve seen firsthand his technical expertise and ability to connect with recruits and players to share that knowledge. Having Herb on our staff will be a great benefit to not only our offensive linemen, but the program as a whole.”
Cooper, a Miami native who attended American Heritage, brings more than a decade of coaching experience and reunites with FSU defensive coordinator Tony White, who he was with at Nebraska in 2023, and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton, his college teammate and fellow coach with the Carolina Panthers and at Nebraska.
“I’m happy to have Evan Cooper joining our Nole Family,” Norvell said. “It’s great to have another Dade County native back working in his home state. Our safeties will benefit from his experience and expertise, and he will be a tremendous collaborator with Tony White, Patrick Surtain, and the rest of our defensive staff to reestablish the dominant defense Florida State is known for. I’m incredibly excited for the future here at Florida State.”
Knighton has quickly risen to prominence coaching defensive linemen, building on a seven-year NFL playing career with coaching roles in the NFL and in two different college programs. He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as Nebraska’s defensive line coach after two years as a coaching assistant for the Carolina Panthers working with the defensive line.
“Terrance Knighton is a rising star in the coaching profession,” Norvell said. “He’s earned success as a player and a coach, both in college and in the NFL. He knows what it takes to be an elite defensive lineman and to impact games as a defensive line group. He has first-hand experience as a top player, and as a coach Terrance has been part of developing one of the best defensive lines in the country. I’m looking forward to seeing how he helps our defensive line continue to uphold the Florida State standard.”
After five seasons coaching Florida State’s defensive ends, Papuchis will shift to coach linebackers for the 2025 season while retaining his special teams coordinator duties, FSU head coach Mike Norvell announced Friday. Additionally, Ernie Sims will be FSU’s assistant linebackers coach and Austin Tucker will be the Seminoles’ assistant wide receiver’s coach.
“JP has a wealth of experience coaching linebackers,” Norvell said. “I’m excited for him to have a hands-on impact on that group while also continuing to be our special teams coordinator. He is an elite coach who has helped numerous players reach the NFL and guided one of the nation’s best special teams units throughout our time here.”
