Gainesville, Florida, December 5, 2025
The Florida Gators have announced significant appointments in their coaching staff with Jon Sumrall naming Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator and Brad White as defensive coordinator. Faulkner brings an impressive track record from Georgia Tech, where he led the offense to a national ranking of 12th. White joins from Kentucky, having achieved top 25 rankings with the Wildcats’ defense. Coach Sumrall aims to implement a high-scoring offense and strong defense as the team looks to enhance its performance in the Southeastern Conference.
Gainesville, Florida – Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall has appointed Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator and Brad White as defensive coordinator, marking significant steps in reshaping the team’s coaching staff. Faulkner joins Florida from Georgia Tech, where he excelled as offensive coordinator, while White brings extensive experience from his time at the University of Kentucky.
Offensive Coordinator: Buster Faulkner
Buster Faulkner, 44, previously served as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Georgia Tech for the past three seasons. During his tenure, he led the team to a national ranking of 12th in total offense, averaging 466.2 yards per game. Before that, Faulkner was a quality control assistant at the University of Georgia, contributing to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Defensive Coordinator: Brad White
Brad White, 43, comes from the University of Kentucky, where he spent eight seasons, including seven as defensive coordinator. Under his leadership, Kentucky’s defense consistently ranked among the top 25 nationally, achieving a notable sixth-place finish in 2018. His coaching experience also includes a previous role as an outside linebackers coach with the Indianapolis Colts.
Coaching Philosophy and Expectations
Coach Sumrall has shared his vision for the Gators, emphasizing a desire to establish a high-scoring offense and a strong defense. He expressed confidence in the abilities of both Faulkner and White to effectively implement these strategies.
Background Context
The appointments of Faulkner and White are part of the ongoing changes within the Gators program following Jon Sumrall’s hiring as head coach. These selections aim to enhance the coaching staff’s capability to lead the team to success within the Southeastern Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are the new coordinators for the Florida Gators?
- The new coordinators are Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator and Brad White as defensive coordinator.
- What is Buster Faulkner’s coaching background?
- Buster Faulkner, 44, joins Florida from Georgia Tech, where he served as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for the past three seasons. Under his leadership, Georgia Tech’s offense ranked 12th nationally in total offense, averaging 466.2 yards per game. Prior to his tenure at Georgia Tech, Faulkner was a quality control assistant at the University of Georgia, contributing to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
- What is Brad White’s coaching experience?
- Brad White, 43, comes to Florida after eight seasons at the University of Kentucky, including seven as defensive coordinator. During his tenure, Kentucky’s defense consistently ranked among the top 25 nationally, with a notable sixth-place finish in 2018. White’s coaching career also includes a stint with the Indianapolis Colts as an outside linebackers coach.
- What is Coach Sumrall’s vision for the team?
- Coach Sumrall emphasized his vision for the team, stating a desire for a high-scoring offense and a strong defense. He expressed confidence in Faulkner and White’s abilities to implement these strategies effectively.
- Why are these coaching changes significant?
- The Florida Gators have been undergoing significant changes following the hiring of Jon Sumrall as head coach. The appointments of Faulkner and White are part of Sumrall’s efforts to build a competitive coaching staff capable of leading the team to success in the Southeastern Conference.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Offensive Coordinator | Buster Faulkner |
| Defensive Coordinator | Brad White |
| Previous Position of Faulkner | Offensive Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach at Georgia Tech |
| Previous Position of White | Defensive Coordinator at the University of Kentucky |
| Coach Sumrall’s Vision | High-scoring offense and strong defense |
