The University of Florida has announced the hiring of Austin Armstrong as the new defensive coordinator following the departure of former defensive coordinator Patrick Toney to the NFL.
Armstrong comes to the Gators from Alabama, where he had served as the Crimson Tide’s linebackers coach since 2016. He has also served as the linebackers coach at Auburn, Louisiana Tech, and Louisiana-Lafayette.
In his four years at Alabama, Armstrong helped lead the Crimson Tide to three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances, including two national championship victories. He was also instrumental in the development of All-American linebackers Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson.
At Florida, Armstrong will take over for Toney, who left for the NFL after three seasons with the Gators. During his tenure, Toney helped lead the Gators to a 10-3 record in 2019, including a win in the Peach Bowl.
Armstrong will be tasked with continuing the success of the Florida defense, which has been among the best in the nation in recent years. The Gators ranked 11th in total defense in 2019 and have consistently been among the top teams in the SEC in that category.
With Armstrong’s experience and success at Alabama, the Gators are confident that he will be able to continue the defensive success that Toney left behind. He will be joined by new defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who comes to Florida from the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
The Gators are hoping that the combination of Armstrong and Williams will help the team continue to be a top defensive unit in the SEC and beyond. With the addition of the two new coaches, the Gators are confident that they can continue to be one of the top teams in college football.
