A few years ago, the Nebraska football team was worried about losing defensive coordinator Tony White to the UCLA Bruins when they were searching for their next head coach. This fall, it's time for the Florida State Seminoles to be the ones to chew on their fingernails.
For the second time since the winter of 2024, UCLA is looking for a new head coach. The hire of DeShaun Foster was a spectacular failure, even if he did manage to upset Nebraska in Lincoln. Now he's fired after just three games into his second season. That's a quick hook for sure, but considering he just got trounced by New Mexico 35-10, it's not surprising.
It took no time at all for analysts to come up with lists about who could replace Foster. The former Nebraska defensive coordinator is right at the top of the list, not in small part because he was a top candidate last time. White has only coached at FSU for two games, but he's also proven that what he did with the Huskers' defense wasn't a fluke.
Ex-Nebraska football DC Tony White once again a top candidate for UCLA
FSU Wire pointed out that On3's Pete Nakos is just one of the reporters who believe the Bruins will at least look in White's direction.
That part makes sense since White has several connections to the UCLA job and Southern California in general. He was a three-year starter for the Bruins from 1997 to 2000 and was a team captain in 2000.
His first collegiate coaching job was also with the school in 2008, when he became a graduate assistant. He left after one season to be New Mexico's linebacker coach and spent the 2009-17 seasons at San Diego State.
White then moved to Arizona State for a year, Syracuse for three seasons, and then spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the Nebraska football defensive coordinator. The real question is whether Tony White would want what isn't viewed as a particularly good job regarding NIL money and fan support, as well as trying to climb a rugged hill in the Big Ten.