Houston head coach Willie Fritz is working to hire Florida defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, according to a report Friday from ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Armstrong, one of the youngest coordinators in the SEC, was brought to Florida ahead of the 2023 season after two seasons running the defense at Southern Miss.
After the Gators finished the 2023 campaign ranked 122nd nationally in yards per play and 62nd in scoring, Billy Napier brought in Ron Roberts to serve as a veteran presence alongside Armstrong. The initial plan was for Armstrong to continue calling plays while Roberts would "coach the coaches," but by September Napier confirmed Roberts was calling the plays.
“I think it’s the same system, verbiage. We have had three different play callers, but ultimately you’re recycling players, too, right, in terms of experience,” Napier said at the time. “You start in January. You begin with an ending in mind. You’re putting a system together.
“It’s frustrating to me, because I’ve been a part of teams and staffs that we played really sound fundamental football. … I think at times, we’re not doing that. Now, we do it really well at times as well. So I think consistency is what we’re pursuing here.”
Florida opened the season allowing 7.67 yards a play in a 41-17 loss to Miami on Aug. 31, and then 6.78 a play in a 33-20 loss to Texas A&M two weeks later. The Gators improved thereafter; only Texas topped 6.25 a play over UF's final nine regular season games, while five opponents were limited to below five per play.
Houston would represent an opportunity for Armstrong to run the defense again after Shiel Wood took the defensive coordinator job at Texas Tech earlier this month.
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