FSU’s defense was bad in 2019, so Mike Norvell is hiring this coordinator to fix it
Florida State coach Mike Norvell is quickly rounding out his staff as the early signing period to land the 2020 recruiting class approaches next week.
Norvell, who was hired from Memphis and introduced at FSU on Sunday, already announced he was retaining longtime assistant Odell Haggins and adding Auburn offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham in that same role with the Seminoles.
Dillingham previously was on Norvell’s staff at Memphis, and that’s where Norvell has found his defensive coordinator for FSU.
According to the Memphis Commerical Appeal, Norvell is hiring Memphis defensive coordinator Adam Fuller to join the Seminoles in the same capacity.
Fuller is the first member of Norvell’s staff from Memphis to leave for Tallahassee following his departure from the Tigers.
Memphis went 12-1 and won the program’s first outright conference title in 50 years when the Tigers defeated Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference championship last Saturday. That victory clinched a New Year’s Six bowl berth into the Cotton Bowl.
Fuller declined to comment on whether he will coach for Memphis in the Cotton Bowl, the Commercial Appeal reported.
Fuller spent six seasons coaching at Marshall before joining Norvell’s staff at Memphis in 2019. His last two seasons — 2018 at Marshall and 2019 at Memphis — were spent as the defensive coordinator.
Fuller improved the Tigers’ defense in his lone season as the team jumped from 94th to 47th nationally in scoring defense. Memphis allowed 24.2 points per game under Fuller’s direction, and also allowed 372.3 yards per game, which saw an improvement from being ranked 89th in the country to 50th.
Fuller replaces Harlon Barnett as FSU’s defensive coordinator. Barnett’s defense gave up 28.5 points per game, which ranked 71st in the country. The Noles also allowed 436 total yards per game to rank 99th in total defense.
