Houston working on the setting Austin Armstrong ESPN’s Pete Thamel was named the next defensive coordinator. He spent the last two seasons in the same role at Florida. CBS now reports that Armstrong has informed staff that he is leaving the job.

Armstrong came to Florida as one of the youngest defensive coordinators in the country Nick Saban had previously accepted him into his staff Alabama following the 2022 season. However, he decided to team up with Billy Napier before the 2023 campaign.

Florida allowed 27.6 points per game in Armstrong’s first season as defensive coordinator in 2023, but the Gators took a step forward in 2024 Ron Roberts came on board as Co-DC and Executive Head Coach. That number dropped to 24.3 points per game as UF bounced back under Napier’s leadership, posting a record of 7-5 late in the season despite one of the toughest schedules in the country.

Armstrong came to Gainesville after two seasons as defensive coordinator Southern Miss. This came after a year under Napier at Louisiana as linebackers coach in 2020 and a season as quality control coach at Georgia in 2019.

Armstrong’s connection to Napier dates back to 2017, when he first came to Louisiana as a graduate assistant, which was his second coaching job after a year as a graduate assistant in Division III West Georgia. Now he is preparing for work Willie Fritz in Houston and replace Shiel Woodwho left to become defensive coordinator Texas Tech.

Houston’s defense was among the Big 12’s best in 2024. The Cougars ranked second in total defense with 324.8 yards per game and were the third-best pass defense with an average of 188.8 passing yards allowed.

Fritz had to replace both coordinators this offseason after Wood left and parted ways Kevin Barbay. Houston brings in LSU Tight End Coach Slade Nagle to lead the offensive and reunite him with his old boss Tulane. Nagle was Fritz’s offensive coordinator with the Green Wave before taking the job in Houston.