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Gators to hire UK defensive backs coach Chris Collins

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr3 hours agoOn3Keith

The Florida Gators are hiring Kentucky defensive backs coach Chris Collins to coach the UF safeties, per On3’s Pete Nakos. Collins just completed his fifth season at Kentucky coaching the defensive backs and his second as co-defensive coordinator. 

Colins worked at Kentucky with new Florida defensive coordinator Brade White. Per his official Kentucky bio, Collins “played a key role in developing a secondary that continues to produce high-level talent and results.”

His bio also noted, “Collins has established a reputation for developing elite secondary talent, most recently mentoring Max Hairston—who made history as the first Kentucky defensive back ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, going 30th overall to the Buffalo Bills. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Andru Phillips was taken in the third round by the New York Giants following a strong junior campaign in which he tallied 47 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups.”

The Kentucky pass defense ranked just 103rd nationally in 2025, but was 21st nationally the season prior when the Wildcats held opposing teams to just 183.7 passing yards a game. That defense had top-five rankings in the SEC and was top 20 in the country in the following categories: red zone defense (70.8%), fewest passing yards allowed per game (183.7) and fewest first downs allowed (215).

With Collins at Kentucky, the Wildcats also were fourth (2021), second (2022) and seventh (2023) in the SEC in total defense. The 2022 Kentucky defense was 11th nationally in total defense after allowing 311.4 yards a game and 13th in scoring (19.2).

Collins previously was safeties coach at Georgia State (2017-2020). Before that, he coached linebackers at Western Carolina, his alma mater, in 2016. Additionally, Collins has been on the staffs at Appalachian State (graduate assistant) and Catawba College (secondary coach and special teams coordinator).

Collins was a four-year letterwinner and two-year captain playing safety and outside linebacker at Western Carolina from 2006-09. His Kentucky bio states, “He recorded 303 tackles during his collegiate career, including 109 as a senior in 2009, when he earned second-team All-Southern Conference recognition. He finished his career with 19 tackles for loss (including 12.5 as a senior), nine forced fumbles (including a SoCon-best six as a junior) and five pass breakups.”

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