Florida officially announces Austin Armstrong as Defensive Coordinator
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators made their new relationship with Austin Armstrong official on Monday. Austin Armstrong was officially announced as the Gators’ new co-defensive coordinator, a role he will hold The 29-year-old will be the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS in his new role at the University of Florida.
Armstrong will not coach a specific position. His title with Florida is just defensive coordinator. Sean Spencer will retain his titles as defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator.
Armstrong was a hot name this offseason. After two years as Southern Miss’ defensive coordinator, he was looked at by Oregon, Georgia, and Alabama. A source told Gators Online that had Will Muschamp left Georgia, Kirby Smart was ready to tab Armstrong as his replacement. Armstrong was hired by Alabama to be their inside linebackers coach. That lasted for all of eight days before Billy Napier came calling with a promotion.
The Southern Miss defense, known as the Nasty Bunch during Armstrong’s tenure, ranked sixth in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (23.5 ppg), a mark that ranked 45th nationally in 2022. The Golden Eagles were third nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.3), fifth in sacks (3.38) and seventh in interceptions (17). USM was also third in fourth down conversion defense (.231).
During his first year as the Southern Miss defensive coordinator, USM ranked No. 42 nationally in total defense (385.5), besting their mark by 18 spots from the season before. His defense also ranked in the top 10 in the country in first downs allowed (No. 2), fumbles recovered (No. 4), red zone defense (No. 6) and defensive touchdowns (No. 7) while finishing at No. 15 in turnovers gained and No. 24 in passing yards allowed.
Armstrong also served as a defensive graduate assistant coach with the Ragin’ Cajuns for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Louisiana claimed its first of back-to-back Sun Belt Conference West Division championships in 2018, played in the Sun Belt’s inaugural football championship game and earned a berth in the AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Prior to his first stint in Lafayette, Armstrong was an assistant defensive line coach at West Georgia (Div. II) for the 2016 season.
Armstrong earned his bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., in 2014, after playing linebacker for the Hawks for four seasons. He is a native of York, Ala., and is married to Tiffany Armstrong.
![Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) hauls in a pass while taking balls from a throwing machine during University of Florida Gators’ Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 28, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/01212103/Untitled-design-80.png)
