Armstrong Joins Cougars as Defensive Coordinator

HOUSTON – Austin Armstrong, a rising star, who recently held the reins as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida over two seasons, is joining University of Houston Football in the same capacity, Head Coach Willie Fritz announced Saturday. Armstrong's contract will be presented to the UH System Board of Regents for ratification at its next meeting.

Armstrong, who was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Southeastern Conference (31) upon his hire in 2023, has tutored 16 All-Conference or All-Conference freshman selections in his four seasons as defensive coordinator, including 11 honorees during a dominant two-year stretch at Southern Miss from 2021-22.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Austin and his wife, Tiffany, to the Houston family," Fritz said. "Having coached against him during my time at Tulane, I've seen firsthand the outstanding job he does. Austin is a rising star in this profession with experience learning from some of the best and brightest in the game. His defenses are consistently disruptive, excel at creating turnovers, and are disciplined in their execution."

In nine seasons coaching, including eight at the FBS level, Armstrong has helped programs to five bowl appearances and three conference championship game appearances, highlighted by a 2019 Sugar Bowl victory and SEC Championship game appearance as Georgia's defensive quality control coach. That season, the 12-2 Bulldogs led the nation in rushing defense (74.6), scoring defense (12.6) and fourth-down conversion defense (.261).

"I'm deeply grateful to the University of Florida and Head Coach Billy Napier for a memorable two seasons in
Gainesville," Armstrong said. "I'm excited about the opportunity at the University of Houston and eager to contribute to a program that has been among the nation's top defenses at various points over the past decade. I have immense respect for Coach Fritz and his achievements and am excited to play my part in building a consistent winner at UH."

In 2023, Armstrong took over a youthful Florida defense, highlighted by a combined 17 starts made by freshmen. That season, the Gators boasted a league-best three SEC All-Freshman league defenders and ranked No. 6 nationally in fourth down conversion defense (.308) and No. 11 in first downs defense (212). In his first season, Armstrong directed significant improvement on third down, elevating Florida 93 spots nationally. The Gators improved from No. 128 in third-down conversion defense (.497) in 2022 to No. 35 (.356) in 2023.

Under Armstrong's leadership as defensive coordinator, his units have ranked in the Top 25 nationally for turnovers gained and the Top 35 for fourth-down conversion defense in three of the past four seasons.

In 2024, Florida's defense ranked inside the Top 25 in five statistical categories including No. 7 in sacks per game (3.17), No. 7 in fumbles recovered (11), No. 12 in red zone defense (.737), No. 16 in turnovers gained (22) and No. 24 in tackles for loss per game (6.8). In 2023, the Gators ranked No. 6 in fourth down conversion defense (.308), No. 11 in first downs defense (212) and No. 35 in third-down conversion defense (.356).

After taking over as the FBS's youngest defense coordinator at 28 years old, Armstrong led Southern Miss to two of its most dominant defensive seasons in school history. During the two-year stretch, the Golden Eagles were No. 4 nationally in defensive touchdowns (8), No. 15 in interceptions (28) and No. 16 in turnovers gained (45).

Southern Miss leaned on its dominance up front in 2022, ranking No. 2 nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.3) and No. 4 in sacks per game (3.38). That season, seven Golden Eagles defenders earned All-Conference honors with the unit ranking No. 3 nationally in fourth down conversion defense (.231), No. 4 in defensive touchdowns (4), No. 7 in interceptions (17) and No. 24 in turnovers gained (22).

In each season at Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles ranked inside the Top 25 in run-defense grade (Pro Football Focus). In 2021, Southern Miss ranked inside the Top 25 nationally in six statistical categories including No. 2 in first downs defense (197), No. 4 in fumbles recovered (13), No. 6 in redzone defense (.703), No. 7 in defensive touchdowns (4), No. 15 in turnovers gained (24) and No. 24 in passing yards allowed per game (202.0).

Armstrong spent three seasons at Louisiana, including the 2020 season as inside linebackers coach. That season, the Ragin' Cajuns reached as high as No. 17 in the AP poll while holding three Top-Five statistical national rankings at the end of the regular season, including No. 2 in passes intercepted (15), No. 3 in defensive passing efficiency (96.27) and No. 4 in passing yards allowed per game (166.9), in addition to ranking No. 31 in total defense (347.8).

He also served as a defensive graduate assistant coach with the Ragin' Cajuns for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Louisiana claimed its first of back-to-back Sun Belt Conference West Division championships in 2018, played in the Sun Belt's inaugural football championship game and earned a berth in the AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Prior to his first stint in Lafayette, Armstrong was an assistant defensive line coach at West Georgia (Div. II) for the 2016 season. He earned his bachelor's degree from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., in 2014, after playing linebacker for the Hawks for four seasons.

AUSTING ARMSTRONG COACHING HISTORY
Year	School, Position
2024-present	Houston, DC
2023-24	Florida, DC
2021-22	Southern Miss, DC
2020	Louisiana, LB
2019	Georgia, Quality Control
2017-18	Louisiana, Graduate Assistant
2016	West Georgia, Graduate Assistant

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