Leavitt expected to leave FAU for SMU
The FAU Owls’ offseason will include a search for a defensive coordinator for the fifth consecutive year.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt is expected to leave Florida Atlantic for the same position on coach Sonny Dyke’s staff at Southern Methodist, a source confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
FAU statistically had one of the best defenses in the country during its lone season under Leavitt, allowing 17.4 points per game in 2020 — the 10th-best mark in the nation. The Owls’ defense ranked 16th in passing yards allowed (187.7) and 24th (342.2) in total yards allowed per game last season.
Yahoo Sports first reported that Leavitt was leaving for SMU after the Mustangs’ old defensive coordinator Kevin Kane left for Illinois.
The Owls will have two defensive staff openings after Leavitt’s departure is official, with FAU safeties coach Lancy Guidry leaving the program for Marshall’s defensive coordinator job.
Leavitt was the head coach at the University of South Florida from 1997 to 2009. After that, he had a stint with the San Francisco 49ers before returning to the college ranks with stops at Colorado (2015-16), Oregon (201718) and Florida State (2019) before coming to Boca Raton last year.
FAU coach Willie Taggart, who hired Leavitt to be the team’s defensive coordinator in December 2019 after replacing Lane Kiffin at the helm of the program, was the head coach at Oregon (2017) and FSU (2018-19) during Leavitt’s tenures with the schools.
Leavitt will look to turn around an SMU program that ranked 75th in points allowed averaged (30.9) and 78th in yards allowed per game (422.2) in 2020.
For the Owls, 2021 will mark another offseason search for a defensive coordinator.
Roc Bellantoni, who was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for three straight seasons under Charlie Partridge, was replaced by co-defensive coordinators Corey Batoon and Chris Kiffin when Lane became FAU’s head coach in December 2016.
After the departures of Batoon (Hawaii defensive coordinator) and Chris (pass-rush specialist with the San Francisco 49ers) for other jobs, Tony Pecoraro served as the Owls defensive coordinator for the 2018 season. FAU’s defense struggled under Pecoraro, with the program parting ways with him after the season and Lane hiring Glenn Spencer as the defensive coordinator for 2019. The Owls led the nation in turnovers under Spencer, who left FAU for USF after Taggart replaced Lane.
Leavitt is the second lead coordinator from last year who won’t return for 2021, with the Owls previously parting ways with co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Clint Trickett.
FAU hired Michael Johnson, the father of Owls quarterback Michael Johnson Jr., as the team’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach earlier in the month.
Jaron Fairman also isn’t returning for the 2021 season as FAU’s special teams coordinator/tight ends coach. Raymond Woodie, who’s also the Owls’ outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator, will be the team’s special teams coordinator.
Co-offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, who also coached the wide receivers last season, will coach the Owls’ tight ends, while Joey Thomas will be FAU’s new wide receivers coach after being a defensive analyst for the Owls in 2020.