HEADLINE

Florida State hires Leavitt as defensive analyst

Field Level Media

September 12, 2019 at 4:40 pm.

After surrendering 80 points in its first two games, Florida State added former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt to its defensive staff.

Leavitt, 62, will have the role of defensive analyst and will be tasked with helping defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett with game-planning, Seminoles coach Willie Taggart said Thursday.

Leavitt was Taggart’s defensive coordinator during the latter’s lone season as coach at Oregon in 2017.

“It’s a great addition to our football staff, our football team, to get somebody of that quality and that experience in the defensive room, and someone Barnett and the other defensive coaches can lean on,” Taggart told reporters Thursday. “It’s a plus for our football team, and it’s something that will help our football team.”

The Seminoles (1-1) lost 36-31 to Boise State in the season opener and escaped 45-44 in overtime last Saturday against Louisiana Monroe. FSU plays at No. 25 Virginia on Saturday.

Leavitt guided South Florida to five consecutive bowl appearances from 2005-09, but was fired after an investigation by the school determined he had struck a player.

Leavitt moved to the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14) and returned to the college level with Colorado (2015-16) before spending the 2017-18 seasons at Oregon.