The Florida Gators football program is set to hire Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White for the same position, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. White is the second major hire for new UF head coach Jon Sumrall alongside the announced addition of longtime NFL front office exec Dave Caldwell as the program's General Manager.
White has been a force at Kentucky for the better part of the last decade, serving as the Wildcats defensive coordinator since 2019 under former UK head coach Mark Stoops. Stoops was fired this week, opening the pathway for White to join UF.
It is a natural pairing in several ways. White and Sumrall actually coached together at UK from 2019-2021. Sumrall was White's inside linebackers coach in 2019 and 2020, and he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2021 before taking the head coach job at Troy ahead of the 2022 season.
It took less than five years for Sumrall to go from student to teacher, as it were. Between the two of them, they bring plenty of SEC experience to Gainesville.
White also arrives with NFL experience, having coached with the Indianapolis Colts from 2012-2017. While his on-field acumen will be the most important factor, that NFL experience is meaningful when it comes to recruiting players with professional ambitions.
Kentucky has historically fielded tough defenses under White and Stoops. Two of the three best seasons in program history came under their guidance, with 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021. The only year to top that mark: 1950 under head coach Bear Bryant.
UK's defense was middle of the pack in the SEC in 2025, holding opponents to 26.4 points per game and allowing 374.2 yards per game. To be fair to White, much of that was due to the inability of the UK offense to stay on the field. The Wildcats 23 points per game ranked 102nd in the country.
White is considered to coach an aggressive and adaptable style of defense. He often runs a 3-3 base as part of a nickel scheme to defend high octane passing games and create blitz opportunities off the edge.
The roster at Florida is likely to be among the most talented he's ever coached, giving him even more to work and scheme with.