Austin Armstrong

Robert Austin Armstrong is an American football coach who currently serves as the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. He has previously served as the defensive coordinator for the University of Southern Mississippi.

Austin Armstrong
Current position
TitleDefensive coordinator
TeamFlorida
ConferenceSEC
Biographical details
Born1993
York, Alabama
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2016West Georgia (GA)
2017–2018Louisiana-Lafayette (GA)
2019Georgia (Quality control)
2020Louisiana-Lafayette (LB)
2021–2022Southern Miss (DC/LB)
2023–presentFlorida (DC)

Early life

Armstrong was born and raised in York, Alabama, one of three children to David and Ruth Armstrong.[1][2][3] Growing up less than an hour from Tuscaloosa, he dreamt of coaching football at Alabama from the age of 10, idolizing Nick Saban.[2][3] When Armstrong was in the 3rd grade he dressed as Florida head coach Steve Spurrier for Halloween, his mothers favorite coach, and has stated that Spurrier is the reason he wears a visor.[2][3][4] Armstrong attended Sumter Academy for high school where he was a team captain in football and baseball before attending Division III Huntingdon College in Montgomery where he played linebacker on the football team and graduated in 2014.[1][2]

Coaching career

Following his graduation from college, Armstrong determined to break into coaching, drove to every university in Alabama with a football team and passed out his resume to coaches.[2] Armstrong would eventually be hired in 2016 by West Georgia as an assistant defensive line coach.[4]

Louisiana-Lafayette

Armstrong would serve as an assistant defensive line coach for Louisiana-Lafayette under Billy Napier for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.[5]

Georgia

In 2019, Armstrong would serve under Kirby Smart as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia.[6]

Louisiana-Lafayette

In 2020, Armstrong would return to Louisiana this time serving as the inside linebackers coach for the Ragin' Cajuns.[4]

Southern Miss

In 2021, Armstrong was hired by Southern Miss to serve as their defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, making him the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS football.[5][7]

Florida

In January 2023, Armstrong was hired by his idol Nick Saban as the inside linebackers coach at Alabama.[8] A month later Napier would hire him as the defensive coordinator at Florida following the departure of Patrick Toney.[4][9]

References
  1. "Austin Armstrong". Huntingdon. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  2. Hayes, Matt (2023-04-12). "Hayes: Meet the man who is most responsible for Florida's potential turnaround. And, no, he's not a QB". Saturday Down South. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  3. Abolverdi, Zach (2023-03-13). "Austin Armstrong left his 'hero' Nick Saban to take DC job at Florida". On3. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  4. Baker, Matt (March 11, 2023). "The 29-year-old coordinator Billy Napier hired to save Florida". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  5. Buckley, Tim. "Ragin' Cajuns football assistant coach being hired by Southern Miss". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  6. Bratton, Michael Wayne (2019-01-22). "Georgia adds to support staff with addition of Austin Armstrong from Louisiana-Lafayette". Saturday Down South. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  7. Wells, Kevin (2023-02-27). "Florida hires Austin Armstrong as defensive coordinator". WCBJ. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  8. Schultz, Nick (2023-01-14). "Report: Alabama to hire defensive coordinator, former Georgia assistant to staff". On3. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  9. Jeyarajah, Shehan (February 27, 2023). "Florida hires Alabama's Austin Armstrong after ex-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney leaves for NFL". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
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