Report: Florida State hires Patrick Surtain Sr. as defensive backs coach

The Florida State Seminoles have made a massive splash in the coaching department. According to Matt Fortuna, the Seminoles are expected to higher former Pro Bowl corner for the Miami Dolphins Patrick Surtain Sr.

“Florida State is expected to hire Patrick Surtain Sr. to be its next defensive backs coach. Surtain, a three-time Pro Bowler, is the former head coach of American Heritage HS, and spent this past season on the Miami Dolphins’ staff,” wrote Fortuna via Twitter.

Surtain, whose son Patrick Jr. is already a Pro Bowl corner for the Denver Broncos, spent the majority of his NFL career with the Dolphins after they selected him in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. The Southern Miss grad and New Orleans, LA native had an impressive run in Miami, earning a first-team All-Pro selection and a second-team in back-to-back years. Surtain finished off the last four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2005-2008.

Surtain was hired by the Miami Dolphins in February of 2022 as a defensive assistant and has been on the staff for the last 11 months. With his addition to the Florida State defense, the former elite NFL cornerback will bring a high level of knowledge and expertise in the secondary in hopes of putting the Seminoles back on the map as one of the premier programs in college football for defensive backs.

Surtain will replace Marcus Woodson, who left for the SEC West’s Arkansas Razorbacks earlier in the month. Woodson will assume the position of co-defensive coordinator with the Razorbacks. An official announcement has yet to be made by Florida State on the hiring. Still, according to On3’s Florida State team at Warchant, an official statement could come as soon as Wednesday. Surtain is still on the Dolphins’ staff as they prepare for their Wildcard matchup against the Buffalo Bills.