Jon Sumrall isn’t wasting any time putting his stamp on Florida’s football program. Just days after the Gators officially brought him on as head coach, Sumrall is building his first staff in Gainesville with familiar faces - including several key members from his Tulane crew.
The latest addition? Rusty Whitt, Tulane’s strength and conditioning coach, who will take over the same role at Florida. Whitt’s move marks the third notable staffer Sumrall has brought with him from New Orleans, and it’s a hire that brings both continuity and trust to the heart of the Gators' offseason development.
Whitt and Sumrall have logged plenty of miles together. Their relationship dates back to their time at Troy, where Whitt served as the strength coach and was retained by Sumrall for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
When Sumrall took the Tulane job, Whitt followed, anchoring the Green Wave’s strength program for the past two years. Now, they’ll reunite once again in Gainesville, aiming to bring that same energy and structure to a Florida team looking to bounce back in 2026.
Whitt is a veteran in the strength and conditioning world, with a résumé that includes stops at Texas Tech, Louisiana, Sam Houston State, and Rice. He’s also held assistant roles at William & Mary, Louisville, and Army. At 54, he brings not just experience, but a deep understanding of what it takes to build physically and mentally tough football teams - a trait Sumrall clearly values as he looks to reset the tone in Gainesville.
Whitt’s hire follows two other staff moves that show Sumrall is leaning heavily on his Tulane foundation. Special teams coordinator Johnathan Galante is expected to take on the same role at Florida, while Evan McKissack, Tulane’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach, is set to shift over to tight ends coach for the Gators. All three were part of a Tulane squad that made a run to the College Football Playoff before falling to Ole Miss in the first round - a testament to the kind of culture and competitiveness Sumrall is trying to replicate in the SEC.
There’s a clear throughline in these hires: familiarity, alignment, and proven results. Sumrall is surrounding himself with coaches who understand his system, his standards, and his expectations. That kind of cohesion can go a long way, especially in a program like Florida that’s hungry for stability and success.
As the Gators turn the page and prepare for 2026, Sumrall’s early moves suggest a coach who knows exactly what he wants - and who he trusts to help him get there. Whitt’s arrival is more than just a staffing decision; it’s a signal that the foundation is being laid for a new era in Gainesville, one built on consistency, toughness, and a vision that’s already proven it can win.