Eliot hired as defensive coordinator
Florida State defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot has officially been named as defensive coordinator for Kentucky, it was announced on Thursday. He'll also coach UK's linebackers.
"I'm very excited with the opportunity to coach at Kentucky and continue to work with Coach Stoops," Eliot said in a UK release. "I believe in the potential of UK and look forward to being on this staff."
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FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher confirmed that Eliot would leave for the coordinator position at Kentucky on Wednesday, but the Wildcats couldn't formally announce the hire until today at the earliest.
Eliot, 36, has coached the Seminoles' defensive ends for the past three seasons. He has coached with UK head coach Mark Stoops previously at Wyoming from 1998-99, at Houston in 2000, and at Miami in 2002. He was also one of Florida State's top recruiters.
"D.J. is one of the brightest young minds in college football," Stoops said in the release. "He has a relentless work ethic and is extremely detailed. I'm very pleased he has joined the Big Blue Nation."
FSU's Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine ranked first and second in the ACC and were tied for first and 12th nationally with 13 and 11 sacks this year, respectively.
He's spent eight years during his career coaching in the state at Texas with three-year stints at Texas State and Rice in addition to his time at Houston. He coached linebackers for two years at Texas State and one season at Tulsa.
Eliot is expected to help the Seminoles as they prepare to face Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl, Fisher said.
Kentucky removed two postings on its website for assistant coach positions, but only announced Eliot on Thursday.