GAINESVILLE — Tulane strength and condition coach Rusty Whitt will join new coach Jon Sumrall at UF, a source confirmed, to continue a fruitful, like-minded approach to developing physical, hard-nosed teams.

Whitt will replace Tyler Miles. He served two seasons at UF after he stepped in for Craig Fitzgerald, who replaced Mark Hocke but departed after less than two months for a similar position at Boston College to reunite with former boss Bill O’Brien.

Whitt, 54, has worked alongside Sumrall as he’s compiled a 43-11 record in two seasons at Troy and Tulane and won three conference titles. Sumrall’s teams won two Sun Belt crowns at Troy and the 2025 AAC title with the Green Wave to qualify to the CFP.

Tulane loss 41-10 at No. 6 Ole Miss Saturday.

Whitt also spent a season (2019) at Army-West Point under Jeff Monken after three seasons at Texas Tech (2016-18) preceded by six (2010-15) at Louisiana-Lafayette, including the 2012 season when the Ragin’ Cajuns nearly upset the Gators in the Swamp, losing 27-20 to a UF team that won 11 games.

Sumrall will retain Jesse Ackerman as associate director of player performance at Florida. Ackerman held the role the past two seasons to mark his second stint in Gainesville, where he served under Will Muschamp from 2012 to 2014. Ackerman also spent five seasons (2016-2020) as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Atlanta Falcons.

Under Miles and Ackerman, the Gators made sizable gains, including 575 pounds of muscle, as well as 475 pounds of lost fat, leading up to the 2024 season. The work in the weight room did not consistently translate to the field.

This past season, UF sustained myriad significant injuries to leave the Gators without many key players during a 4-8 season.

Whitt’s background goes beyond the weight room.

The Azle, Texas native served 2003 to 2009 as a communication sergeant in the 10th Special Forces Group of the U.S. Army. He was awarded the combat infantryman’s badge (2007), two Iraqi campaign medals, and the Army commendation medal with valor.

Prior to his military service, Whitt worked at Sam Houston State (1998-2003) under legendary coach K.C. Keeler, Louisville (1998), William & Mary (1997) and with Team USA men’s and women’s volleyball in 1997.

Whitt played safety and linebacker for Abilene Christian University in Texas, from 1990 to 1994, and then worked at as a graduate assistant at Midwestern State (1995-96) and the University of Texas (1996–1997).

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.