GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dan Mullen announced the addition of coaching veteran David Turner as the Gators' defensive line coach. Turner, who has 33 years of coaching experience, worked with Mullen for four seasons (2009, 2013-15) at Mississippi State.
"David is a great addition to our coaching staff and the Gators football family," Mullen said. "We spent some time together at Mississippi State and he has produced numerous first-round picks in the NFL over this 30-plus years of coaching. Having spent 16 years in the SEC, he understands that this is a line of scrimmage league and our defensive line will continue to play fast, physical and aggressive under his leadership."
After spending last season (2018) at UTSA, Turner spent the previous 16 years in the Southeastern Conference at Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Alabama and Vanderbilt.
During his coaching career, Turner has mentored several NFL players, including 2017 overall No. 1 selection Myles Garrett, 2012 12th overall selection Fletcher Cox, Josh Boyd, Jovan Haye, Kyle Love, Pernell McPhee and Preston Smith.
UTSA (2018), Texas A&M (2016-17)
Turner helped coordinate a defense that totaled 78 tackles-for-a loss for 250 yards and 23 sacks for 140 yards. Meanwhile in College Station, Texas, he coached the defensive tackles and was the defensive run game coordinator where he guided Myles Garrett to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Garrett became the Aggies first No. 1 overall pick when the Cleveland Browns selected him. He is the highest NFL Draft pick in school history, surpassing the previous best of No. 2 overall by five Aggies.
Garrett, under the direction of Turner, became the ninth player in school history to earn unanimous first-team All-America honors in 2016, and he also was a finalist for the Bednarik and Rotary Lombardi Awards. He led the Aggies with 8.5 quarterback sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss in 2016 and also contributed two forced fumbles and 10 QB hurries during his final collegiate season.
Mississippi State (2013-15)
Turner's defensive fronts at MSU earned a reputation for being consistently disruptive and putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. Over the his final two seasons in Starkville, Miss., the Bulldogs piled up over 180 tackles for loss, including 68 quarterback sacks. In 2015, the Bulldogs set a school record with 98 tackles for loss, while the 2014 unit produced 37 sacks, which ranked No. 2 in the SEC and were the third-most in school history.
In 2014, when Turner helped Mississippi State to its first 10-win season since 1999 and a berth in the Orange Bowl, the Bulldogs defense produced the second-most sacks (37) in the SEC and was the nation's No. 1 red zone defense, as opponents scored on just 63.64 percent of their chances in the red zone.
Under Turner's tutelage, senior Preston Smith had a career year in 2014, racking up a team-best nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss.
In his first season back at Mississippi State in 2013, Turner helped lead one of the best defenses in the SEC, ranking among the SEC's top five in total defense (fourth - 349.3 yards per game) and rushing defense (fourth – 144.2 yards per game). During the last three games of that season, MSU allowed just 11.3 points per game, including two contests that featured overtime stands.
Kentucky (2010-12)
Turner helped the Wildcats' defense improve in tackles for loss, sacks and rushing yards allowed from the year prior to his hire. The Wildcats improved their sacks-per-game average each season under Turner's watch, posting more than two per game in 2012.
Mississippi State (2007-09)
In his first season at MSU, he helped the Bulldogs to their first postseason appearance in seven years, a championship of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Three of his linemen, second-team All-SEC performer Titus Brown, Jesse Bowman and Cortez McCraney, went on to sign NFL contracts.
Turner recruited, signed and tutored future NFL standouts and early-round draft picks Pernell McPhee and Fletcher Cox in 2009.
Alabama (2006), Vanderbilt (2002-05)
During his lone campaign in Tuscaloosa, UA finished 23rd nationally in total defense in 2006. Meanwhile during his three seasons in Nashville, Turner served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt.
One of his linemen, tackle Jovan Haye, went on to the NFL. Vanderbilt had a significant upgrade in talent level during Turner's term as recruiting coordinator as he helped bring in the players for the Commodores' eventual Music City Bowl championship in 2008.
Minnesota (2001), Virginia (1997-2000), NC State (1995-96), Kentucky (1993-94), James Madison (1991-92), Indiana U. of Pennsylvania (1990), NC State (1988-89), Davidson (1986-87)
A native of Goldston, N.C., Turner also has worked in the Big Ten Conference at Minnesota, where he worked with the defensive ends, and in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Virginia, where he coached defensive tackles and linebackers. He also was co-special teams coordinator in his final season. The Cavaliers played in the Peach Bowl, Micronpc.com Bowl and the Oahu Classic during his term there.
Turner began his collegiate coaching career in 1986 as an assistant at his alma mater, Davidson College. He worked with the running backs and tight ends over a two-year stretch. In 1988, he moved to North Carolina State, serving two years as a defensive graduate assistant. He worked with a Wolfpack unit that ranked first in the ACC in total defense in 1988 while playing in the Peach Bowl and Copper Bowl.
He spent one year as the defensive line coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, helping the team to a 12-2 overall record while reaching the Division II national championship game. He also worked two seasons at James Madison, helping the Dukes to a 9-4 record and a berth in the 1991 Division I-AA playoffs.
Turner returned to the Division I-A ranks in 1993. He spent two seasons as defensive ends coach at Kentucky, where he helped the Wildcats advance to the '93 Peach Bowl. In 1995, he went back to NC State, coaching defensive ends and linebackers before going to Virginia in '97.
Background
Turner, who graduated from Davidson in 1985 with a degree in sociology, is married to the former Yvette Modica and the couple has two daughters, Bianca and Alexyia.
Coaching History
| Seasons |
School/Team |
Title/Position Coached |
| 2019-Present |
Florida |
Defensive Line |
| 2018 |
UTSA |
Defensive Line |
| 2016-18 |
Texas A&M |
Run Defense Coordinator / Defensive Tackles |
| 2013-15 |
Mississippi State |
Defensive Line |
| 2010-12 |
Kentucky |
Defensive Line |
| 2007-09 |
Mississippi State |
Defensive Line |
| 2006 |
Alabama |
Defensive Ends |
| 2002-05 |
Vanderbilt |
Recruiting Coordinator / Defensive Line |
| 2001 |
Minnesota |
Defensive Ends |
| 1997-2000 |
Virginia |
Defensive Tackles / Linebackers |
| 1995-96 |
NC State |
Defensive Tackles / Linebackers |
| 1993-94 |
Kentucky |
Defensive Ends |
| 1991-92 |
James Madison |
Assistant Coach |
| 1990 |
Indiana U. of Pennsylvania |
Defensive Line |
| 1998-89 |
NC State |
Graduate Assistant |
| 1987 |
Davidson |
Linebackers |
| 1986 |
Davidson |
Running Backs / Tight Ends |
Postseason History
| Season |
Bowl Game |
Opponent |
Result |
| 2017 |
Belk Bowl (Texas A&M) |
Wake Forest |
L, 55-52 |
| 2016 |
Texas Bowl (Texas A&M) |
Kansas State |
L, 33-28 |
| 2015 |
Belk Bowl (Mississippi State) |
NC State |
W, 51-28 |
| 2014 |
Orange Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Georgia Tech |
L, 49-34 |
| 2013 |
Liberty Bowl (Mississippi State) |
Rice |
W, 44-7 |
| 2011 |
BBVA Compass Bowl (Kentucky) |
Pitt |
L, 27-10 |
| 2007 |
Liberty Bowl (Mississippi State) |
UCF |
W, 10-3 |
| 2006 |
Independence Bowl (Alabama) |
Oklahoma State |
L, 34-31 |
| 2000 |
Oahu Bowl (Virginia) |
Georgia |
L, 37-14 |
| 1999 |
Micronpc.com Bowl (Virginia) |
Illinois |
L, 63-21 |
| 1998 |
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Virginia) |
Georgia |
L, 35-33 |
| 1993 |
Peach Bowl (Kentucky) |
Clemson |
L, 14-13 |
| 1989 |
Copper Bowl (NC State) |
Arizona |
L, 17-10 |
| 1988 |
Peach Bowl (NC State) |
Iowa |
W, 28-23 |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
DE Myles Garrett (1st) – Texas A&M '17 – Cleveland Browns
DE Daeshon Hall (1st) – Texas A&M '17 – Carolina Panthers
DT Chris Jones (2nd) – Mississippi State '16 – Kansas City Chiefss
DE Preston Smith (2nd) – Mississippi State '15 – Washington Redskins
DT Josh Boyd (5th) – Mississippi State '13 – Green Bay Packers
DT Fletcher Cox (1st) – Mississippi State '12 – Philadelphia Eagles
DE Pernell McPhee (5th) – Mississippi State '11 – Baltimore Ravens
DE Javon Hoye (6th) – Vanderbilt '05 – Carolina Panthers
DE Greg White (7th) – Minnesota '02 – Houston Texans
DT Monsanto (7th) – Virginia '02 – Denver Broncos
DE Patrick Kerney (1st) – Virginia '99 – Atlanta Falcons
DT Antonio Dingle (7th) – Virginia '99 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Personal Information
Education: 1985 - Bachelor's from Davidson
Wife: Yvette
Children: Bianca, Alexyia
