Tag: Jon Sumrall

Tulane promotes Will Hall to replace Jon Sumrall

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tulane promoted passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Will Hall to be its next head coach on Monday.

Hall replaces Jon Sumrall, who is leaving to fill the coaching vacancy at Florida.

Hall will be formally introduced Tuesday. However, he won’t take over full duties until after Tulane’s College Football Playoff run, as Sumrall has agreed to stay with the Green Wave (11-2) through the end of its season.

Hall, 45, is in his second stint at Tulane. He previously served as the Green Wave’s offensive coordinator in 2019-20 before leaving to become the head coach at Southern Miss.

“We are thrilled to select Will Hall to be our head coach,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said in a statement. “His character, integrity, and leadership qualities are evident both on and off the field. With extensive head coaching experience and a proven track record of success at every level, Will embodies the qualities we value in our program. We believe he is the right person to lead Tulane Football into its next chapter.”

Hall had a 14-30 record over four seasons with the Golden Eagles (2021-24), leading them to one bowl appearance. However, he does have a track record of success as a head coach at the Division II level, leading West Alabama to a 25-11 record and two playoff appearances from 2011-13 and then taking West Georgia to a 31-9 record and two D-II semifinals from 2014-16.

The Amory, Miss., native has also made coaching stops as Louisiana’s offensive coordinator (2017) and as Memphis’ assistant head coach/tight ends coach (2018).

“I’m truly honored to accept this opportunity to serve as Tulane’s head football coach,” Hall said in a statement. “Tulane has been a special place for me. I’ve felt the unique spirit of Tulane and the strength of its culture. I’m excited to lead this program with a deep respect for its history, its people, and the city of New Orleans. Together, we’ll build on our success and continue to embody the resilience, pride, and excellence that make Tulane and this community so extraordinary.”

The Green Wave won their second American Conference championship in four seasons Friday night to clinch the program’s first CFP appearance. No. 11 seed Tulane plays No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., on Dec. 20.

–Field Level Media

Florida’s Jon Sumrall hires Kentucky DC Brad White

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida’s new football coach Jon Sumrall made his first major hire with longtime Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White accepting the same position Thursday in Gainesville.

White, 43, was Kentucky’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach from 2019-25, and was that position’s coach in 2018. He spent the six prior seasons with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts (2012-17), rising from defensive quality control coach to outside linebackers coach.

“Brad is one of the best defensive minds in football and I’m thrilled he will be joining us in Gainesville,” said Sumrall, an assistant with White at Kentucky from 2019-21, including the final year as co-defensive coordinators. “Brad has led one of the best defenses in the SEC the last seven years and has extensive experience in the NFL as well. His defenses possess the exact characteristics we are going to have here at Florida, and I can’t think of a better leader for that unit.”

The Wildcats’ defense ranked in the FBS top 45 from 2018-24, including top 25 in 2018, 2018, 2021 and 2022.

“I’m ready to hit the ground running on helping construct a defense that will make Gator Nation proud,” White said in a news release from the athletic department. “Coach has already stated the vision: be the most feared defense in college football. Now comes the hard work necessary to make that vision a reality. And while scheme has its importance, the most critical focus we’ll have as a defensive staff will be to develop the highly talented playmakers we recruit and demand that they play with a pace and violence second to none.”

One of those players at Kentucky was linebacker Josh Hines-Allen, now a stellar defensive end with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A first-team All-America selection and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year along with numerous national individual awards in 2018, Hines-Allen praised his former position coach.

“First of all, they’re getting a great person, a great communicator, a guy that wants the best for his players,” Hines-Allen said in the news release. “He was my positional coach when I had him, and the time we spent together helped me develop and be where I am today. I give him a lot of credit and a lot of respect and love. He’s done a lot of good things for that program. Hopefully, he continues to have that success at Florida.”

White also worked at Kentucky with Liam Coen, the Jaguars’ first-year head coach, who called him “one of the smarter guys, coaches, I’ve been around at any level.”

“True teacher of the game,” said Coen, the offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 2021 and 2023. “I learned so much from Brad in terms of the way that he saw the game. He is one of the more detailed, organized coaches I’ve been around in terms of his process throughout the week, his checklists throughout the week and then his game plans to be able to go and cause issues for people.”

White was a starting linebacker at Wake Forest, where he graduated in 2004.

–Field Level Media

Report: Florida to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida is finalizing a six-year contract to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its next head coach, ESPN reported Sunday.

Per the network, Sumrall will receive nearly $6.5 million annually in addition to “significant incentives” tied to the College Football Playoff.

Sumrall, 43, owns a 42-11 record in four seasons as a head coach split between Troy and Tulane. He was the 2022 Sun Belt Coach of the Year with the Trojans and guided the Green Wave to a 10-2 record in 2025.

Sumrall returns to the Southeastern Conference after playing at Kentucky and serving as an assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator at the school.

He effectively will take the position previously held by Billy Napier, who was fired on Oct. 19 and replaced by interim coach Billy Gonzales. The Gators finished the season with a 4-8 record after posting a 40-21 victory over Florida State (5-7) on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Tulane extends contract of head coach Jon Sumrall

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has reached an agreement with the school on a contract extension after leading the Green Wave to the conference championship game in his first season.

Sumrall had been linked to multiple Power 4 coaching openings but informed Tulane on Sunday night of his decision to stay put.

“After working with him and his staff for the past year, I’m convinced that Jon is the right leader at the right time for our football program,” Tulane athletic director David Harris said in a statement Monday. “He brings an incredible combination of leadership, passing, competitive spirit and care for our student-athletes to the job each day.”

The Green Wave are 9-4 heading into their Gasparilla Bowl appearance against Florida on Dec. 20. They lost to Army, 35-14, in the American Athletic Championship game on Friday.

Tulane hired Sumrall almost exactly one year ago after he guided Troy to a 23-4 record in his two seasons as head coach. Sumrall was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2022 and won his second straight conference championship with Troy in 2023.

Sumrall was a linebacker at Kentucky from 2002-04 before working as an assistant coach at San Diego, Tulane, Troy, Ole Miss and his alma mater. He was Kentucky’s co-defensive coordinator in 2021 before taking the job at Troy.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Boone, North Carolina, USA; Troy Trojans head coach Jon Sumrall on the sidelines against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second half at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Troy coach Jon Sumrall lands 4-year extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Troy football coach Jon Sumrall has agreed to a new four-year contract, ESPN reported Friday.

The deal includes a pay raise, an increased pool for staff salaries and “additional program investments for players,” according to the report.

Sumrall, 40, guided the Trojans to a 12-2 record (7-1 Sun Belt) and a Cure Bowl victory against UTSA in his first year with the program in 2022.

Troy broke the previous school record for wins (11-2) set in 2017 and won its first bowl game since 2018.

Sumrall was an assistant coach at his alma mater Kentucky (2019-21), Ole Miss (2018), Troy (2015-17), Tulane (2012-14) and San Diego (2007-11) before taking over the program in Troy, Ala.

The Trojans open the 2023 season at home Sept. 2 against Stephen F. Austin.

–Field Level Media