Florida to Hire Browns Assistant Jonathan DeCoster as Co-OL Coach
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Photo: Jonathan DeCoster; Credit: ClevelandBrowns.com
Florida is expected to hire Cleveland Browns offensive assistant Jonathan DeCoster as its next co-offensive line coach, according to 247Sports.
DeCoster will replace Darnell Stapleton in the role. Stapleton stepped away from Florida to join the Washington Commanders' assistant staff in February.
DeCoster is a Florida native who played high school football at Miramar (Fla.) Everglades.
A former offensive tackle at Louisiana from 2006-10 — not at the same time but notably the same program Florida head coach Billy Napier previously led (2018-21) — DeCoster entered the coaching ranks shortly following his collegiate career, which included All-Sun Belt honorable mention recognition for his play in 2008.
He began the second phase of his football career as a graduate assistant offensive line coach at Nevada, and following two seasons in that position, he took on a quartet of responsibilities at West Virginia State, owning the titles of offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, strength coach and travel coordinator.
SEC powerhouse LSU recognized the potential DeCoster displayed in multiple departments at WVSU, and hired him as a tight ends graduate assistant in 2017.
DeCoster remained with the Tigers for three years. He aided in the development of tight end Thaddeus Moss, who caught 47 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns in 2019, when LSU raised the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy to conclude an undefeated, 15-0 season.
DeCoster then took an on-field, tight ends coaching position at Old Dominion for the 2020 season. The Monarchs did not play a game that season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but DeCoster led his position group through offseason training camp practices.
Prior to reaching the decade mark of his coaching career, DeCoster found a spot in the NFL, with the Browns. He first served in an offensive quality control capacity before being named an offensive assistant in 2022.
Cleveland on its official website credits DeCoster for playing a part in the club's 5.09 rushing yards per attempt mark in 2021, the highest single-season average by the Browns since 1966. Running back Nick Chubb ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total rushing yards that year, with 1,259.
At Florida, DeCoster will work alongside co-offensive coordinator and primary offensive line coach Rob Sale, who is entering his third season in the capacity.
While Sale and Stapleton revitalized Florida's offensive line play in 2022, when the unit allowed just 17 sacks and paved the way toward 5.5 yards per team rush, the front five's performance regressed dramatically in 2023, as the Gators' quarterbacks were sacked 39 times and UF's rushing attack averaged 4.3 yards per attempt.
DeCoster will be tasked with helping Sale in getting the group back to its 2022 form, or at least closer to it, in 2024.
DeCoster's hiring will complete Florida's on-field coaching staff as it prepares for spring training camp, which begins on March 7. Previously, UF hired Will Harris, Gerald Chatman and Ron Roberts to respectively fill the positions of secondary coach, defensive line coach and linebackers coach.
Additionally, Napier promoted Gators tight ends coach Russ Callaway to co-offensive coordinator, a position he will split with Sale.
Find DeCoster's coaching history in full below.
- 2022-23: Cleveland Browns — Offensive Assistant
- 2021: Cleveland Browns — Offensive Quality Control
- 2020: Old Dominion — Tight Ends Coach
- 2017-19: LSU — Graduate Assistant (Tight Ends)
- 2015-16: West Virginia State — Offensive Line Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Strength Coach/Travel Coordinator
- 2013-14: Nevada — Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line)
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