UF head coach Billy Napier has brought Patrick Toney with him from Louisiana as the first member of his defensive staff. He will coach the safeties and serve as co-defensive coordinator.
Toney coached the safeties at Louisiana from 2018-20 before switching to outside linebackers prior to this season. He added defensive coordinator duties prior to the 2020 season.
The Ragin’ Cajuns’ defense thrived under his leadership the past two years. They ranked 31st in the country in scoring defense and 33rd in total defense in 2020. They currently rank 11th in scoring defense and 36th in total defense this season.
Toney coached four all-conference performers in 2020 and eight in 2021. Chauncey Manac, one of his outside linebackers, ranks third in the Sun Belt with 10 ½ sacks and was named second team all-conference.
During his time coaching the safeties, he helped lead a group that led the Sun Belt in passing defense in 2019.
Prior to Louisiana, he coached the safeties at UTSA from 2016-17. The Roadrunners finished seventh in the FBS in total defense in 2017.
Safety Michael Egwuagu earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors after recording 83 tackles, 7 1/2 tackles-for-loss, seven pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles, an 82-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown and a 59-yard fumble return.
Toney coached the secondary at Sam Houston State in 2015. Cornerbacks Trenier Orr and Mikell Everette were named to the All-Southland Conference teams.
He began his college coaching career at Southeastern Louisiana from 2012-14. He coached the entire secondary his first two years before specializing in safeties and special teams in 2014.
During his time there, he worked with cornerback Robert Alford, who was selected 60th overall in the NFL Draft. His special teams units led the nation in kickoff return average, were sixth in blocked kicks and were 13th in kickoff return defense.
Though Toney is only 31 years old and has never worked at a Power Five school, Napier believes that he is a rising star in the profession, so much so that he brought him with him to Gainesville.