Tony White

Tony White is in his first season as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator in 2023. White came to NU after coordinating the defense at Syracuse.

 

In his 17th season of coaching, White boasts previous Power Five experience at Syracuse, Arizona State and UCLA. White is in his fourth season as a defensive coordinator in 2023, and he held the title of defensive coordinator and defensive passing game coordinator at Arizona State and recruiting coordinator at San Diego State. 

White helped Syracuse rank in the top 25 nationally in total defense in both 2021 and 2022. Syracuse limited its opponents to 20 or fewer points 10 times over his final two seasons while twice ranking in the top 15 nationally in defensive touchdowns.

White was a 2022 nominee for the Broyles Award. He has a demonstrated ability to develop players, as four Orange defenders earned freshman All-America honors in his three seasons.
 
BEFORE NEBRASKA
SYRACUSE: White was the defensive coordinator at Syracuse from 2020 to 2022, and he also coached linebackers in his final season on the Orange staff. While the pandemic disrupted White’s first season in 2020, he helped Syracuse rank among the nation’s top defenses in both 2021 and 2022. From the 2020 to the 2021 season, Syracuse had the most improved defense in the country, moving up 93 spots in the total defense rankings.

Syracuse was one of only 12 schools to rank in the top 25 nationally in total defense in both 2021 and 2022. With White leading the defense, Syracuse allowed 20 or fewer points 10 times in those two seasons, while surrendering 10 points or less five times. The Orange also ranked in the top 10 nationally in defensive touchdowns twice in White’s three seasons, while four Syracuse defenders earned freshman All-America honors.

In 2022, the defense was a major reason why the Orange earned a top-25 ranking and qualified for a bowl game. Syracuse ranked in the top 40 nationally in five major defensive categories. The Orange ranked 12th in defensive touchdowns (3), 14th in passing defense (184.8), 21st in total defense (328.6) and 40th in scoring defense (23.1) and sacks (2.5).

 In 2021, White led Syracuse to its best total defense mark in a decade, ranking 19th nationally by allowing 330.3 yards per game. Syracuse also ranked 16th nationally in sacks (3.1) and 26th in both passing (204.2) and rushing (126.1) defense. The Orange were one of only eight schools to rank in the top 30 in both passing and rushing defense. Individually, five Syracuse defenders earned all-conference accolades.

In White’s first season in 2020, Syracuse ranked seventh nationally with three defensive touchdowns. Three Orange defenders earned freshman All-America honors, as Syracuse started as many as six freshmen on defense.

ARIZONA STATE: White coached for two seasons at Arizona State in 2018 and 2019, serving as the Sun Devils’ cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator. In his first season, White helped Arizona State post dramatic improvement in its pass defense. The Sun Devils ranked 120th in pass defense in 2017 before White’s arrival, but he helped ASU move up 49 spots nationally in that category in 2018.

The improvement continued in 2019, when Arizona State ranked 12th nationally in passes defended (65) and 25th in interceptions (13).  Three of White’s cornerbacks earned All-Pac-12 honors in 2019. He was promoted to interim defensive coordinator for the Sun Devils’ Sun Bowl victory over Florida State, when White’s unit scored a defensive touchdown and limited the Seminoles to 14 points.

SAN DIEGO STATE: The longest stop of White’s coaching career came at San Diego State, where he spent nine seasons on the Aztec staff. He joined SDSU as cornerbacks coach for the 2009 and 2010 seasons and added the title of recruiting coordinator for his final seven seasons (2011-17) on staff.

In White’s nine seasons, San Diego State won three Mountain West Conference titles and went to eight bowl games. White was twice named the Mountain West Recruiter of the Year by Scout.com (2011, 2013), and he was recognized as the top recruiter among non-Power Five schools by Rivals.com in 2014.

Defensively, the Aztecs boasted one of the nation’s top secondaries during White’s tenure. SDSU ranked in the top five nationally in interceptions in two of his final three seasons, while ranking in the top 10 in defensive passing efficiency in both 2014 and 2015. San Diego State also posted pass coverage grades ranked 31st nationally or higher in three of White’s final four seasons.

San Diego State ranked 15th nationally in passing yards allowed per game (178.7) in his final season in 2017, one year after the Aztecs led the country with 26 interceptions in 2016. In 2015, San Diego State ranked second nationally in interceptions (23) and 10th in passing efficiency defense. The Aztecs were even better in 2014, ranking third nationally in defensive passing efficiency. In 2011, both of San Diego State’s cornerbacks were first-team all-conference selections.

Damontae Kazee was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016, becoming the first cornerback in conference history to be a two-time league defensive player of the year. Kazee was also recognized as a second-team All-American and was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Leon McFadden was a third-round NFL Draft pick in 2013, while Larry Parker earned honorable-mention All-America honors under White’s tutelage, and J.J. Whittaker was a three-time all-conference selection.

NEW MEXICO: White coached at New Mexico in 2008 under Rocky Long, the first of 10 straight seasons White served on Long’s staff. White coached the linebackers in his lone season on the Lobo staff. He produced two all-conference selections and helped New Mexico rank 26th nationally in rushing defense.

UCLA: White’s first collegiate coaching job was as a graduate assistant for football operations at UCLA in 2007. With the Bruins, he assisted with the day-to-day operations of the program, including recruiting administration.

ST. GENEVIEVE HIGH SCHOOL: White began his career as the head coach of St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, Calif. In his only season at the school, White led the team to its best record in 13 seasons and two of his players earned first-team All-CIF accolades.
  
PLAYING CAREER (UCLA/CFL)
White was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starting linebacker at UCLA from 1997 to 2000. He totaled nearly 200 tackles in his career and was a senior captain in 2000, when he won a team award for best leadership. White played four seasons in the Canadian Football League following his collegiate career.

 

PERSONAL
White earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA in 2002. He and his wife Angela have one son, Anthony III, and one daughter, Ava.

COACHING CAREER
2023: Nebraska (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)

2022: Syracuse (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2020-21: Syracuse (Defensive Coordinator)
2019: Arizona State (Interim Defensive Coordinator for Bowl Game)
2018-19: Arizona State (Cornerbacks/Defensive Passing Game Coordinator)
2011-17: San Diego State (Cornerbacks/Recruiting Coordinator)
2009-10: San Diego State (Cornerbacks)
2008: New Mexico (Linebackers)
2007: UCLA (Graduate Assistant)
2006: St. Genevieve (Calif.) High School (Head Coach)