Florida State’s coaching overhaul picked up another major name on Sunday, with second-year defensive coordinator Tony White dismissed from the program.
White’s exit comes on the heels of Mike Norvell’s dismissal, leaving the Seminoles with two major changes at the top of the operation in the same day. Pete Nakos of On3 first reported White’s firing, and Florida State had not officially confirmed the move at the time.
The timing follows a rough stretch for the Seminoles, who are 3-5 overall and 1-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. They just dropped a 36-24 home rivalry game to Clemson on Saturday night, a loss that featured Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds throwing two touchdown passes - matching the team’s season total entering the game - before adding a 79-yard touchdown run to put it away.
White’s contract situation also makes the move notable. He was set to earn $1.7 million next season, the third and final year of his original deal with Florida State. He will be owed a percentage of that salary, along with some remaining pay from the second year of the contract.
On the field, White’s defenses never found steady footing in Tallahassee. Over his two seasons as defensive coordinator, Florida State went 8-12 and did not win a road game. The unit became a central reason for the Seminoles’ struggles, especially during the first eight games of the 2026 season, when the numbers slipped into ugly territory across the board.
After Saturday’s game, Florida State ranked 127th nationally in total defense, 114th in passing yards allowed per game, 111th in rushing defense and 105th in scoring defense. The Seminoles were giving up 28.9 points per game overall, and that number jumped to 34.5 against Power Four opponents.
The low points were hard to miss. Florida State allowed Alabama to score on nine straight possessions and later absorbed a 44-6 run from Louisville, which piled up nearly 400 rushing yards.
There were brighter moments in 2025, though not enough to change the bigger picture. White’s defense helped fuel Florida State’s 31-17 win over Alabama at Doak Campbell Stadium to open the season, and the unit did improve from 2024 in several areas.
The Seminoles finished with a top-30 defense and posted better marks in scoring defense, passing defense, rushing defense, total defense, third-down defense and red-zone defense. They also increased their totals in takeaways, interceptions and sacks.
Even so, the season had too many breakdowns to ignore. Virginia put up 46 points in a double-overtime game, Pitt carved up the Seminoles in a home loss and Florida controlled the ground game while scoring 40 points in a defeat that helped push Florida State to a losing record and out of bowl contention.
Individual production did show up in the secondary. Earl Little Jr., a second-team All-ACC selection, was one of two players in the conference with at least 75 tackles and four interceptions. Florida State also ranked among the nation’s better ball-hawking teams, with three players recording at least three interceptions - one of only nine teams to do that.
White was hired by Florida State on Dec. 5, 2024, after the program fired former defensive coordinator Adam Fuller on Nov. 10 of that year.
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