MIAMI – The FIU football program has begun to finalize its coaching staff with Nick Coleman named as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Jovan Dewitt staying on in his current role as defensive coordinator, FIU head coach Willie Simmons announced on Tuesday.
 
Coleman arrives at FIU with over 10 years of experience and following a two-year stint as the quarterbacks coach at UAB under head coach Trent Dilfer. 
 
"My family and I are extremely blessed to have this opportunity here at FIU and with Coach Simmons," Coleman said. "He is a proven winner, and we can't wait to get to work in the 305!"
 
During his time with the Blazers, Coleman helped guide quarterback Jacob Zeno to the most prolific single season by a UAB quarterback in school history. Zeno set the school record for single season completions (279) and completion percentage (73.6), while throwing for the second most yards in a season (3,126).
 
Zeno was one of the top quarterbacks in the nation and finished 2023 ranked second nationally in completion percentage (73.6), seventh in completions per game (25.4), 11th in total offense (299.5) and 14th in passing yards per game (284.2).
 
Prior to his tenure with the Blazers, Coleman spent two seasons as an offensive analyst at South Carolina (2021-22), during which the Gamecocks achieved its highest College Football Playoff ranking in school history (No. 19) behind an offense that scored 30+ points in eight games and 50 or more points in three games.
 
Coleman helped in the development of current NFL quarterback Spencer Rattler, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns.
 
Coleman served as the offensive coordinator at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2020. That came following a two-year stint at Murray State (2018-19) where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
In 2018, the Racers averaged 34.3 points per game in Ohio Valley Conference play. Under his tutelage, quarterback Drew Anderson was a second team all-conference selection and went on to play professionally with the Arizona Cardinals.
 
Coleman worked as the quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator at Tennessee Tech in 2017. Tech posted the third-ranked passing offense in the OVC during his time with the Golden Eagles.
 
Coleman spent three seasons (2014-16) as offensive coordinator at Itawamba Community College where the Indians led the conference in total offense (563 ypg), passing offense (393 ypg) and passing touchdowns (29) in his final campaign. He molded three quarterbacks that signed NCAA Division I scholarships over those three seasons.
 
Coleman's first full-time position came at Faulkner University, where he was the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in 2011 and the offensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013.
 
The Eagles were ranked for the first time ever in 2012. In 2013, Faulkner led the NAIA in total offense (590 ypg), passing offense (421 ypg) and passing touchdowns (49), and reached the NAIA playoffs for the first time after winning the MSC West Division title.
 
A native of Decaturville, Tenn., Coleman began his coaching career as an offensive GA at his alma mater, Middle Tennessee State, in 2010. The Blue Raiders played in the GoDaddy.com Bowl that season.
 
Coleman was a quarterback at Middle Tennessee from 2006-09. The Blue Raiders won a program-record 10 games during his senior year, including a victory in the New Orleans Bowl.
 
Dewitt will be back for his fourth overall season with the Panthers in 2025, following a season which saw Travion Barnes earn Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors under his watch. 
 
The 2024 campaign also saw the Panthers' defense rank 51st nationally in red zone defense and rank among the top five in CUSA and top 100 nationally in pass defense.  Two Panthers earned first-team All-CUSA honors in 2024 while a third earned second-team honors.

"I am excited to remain a part of Panther Nation and I'm appreciative of Coach Simmons for trusting me and giving me the opportunity," Dewitt said. "I am looking forward to continuing to build upon the foundation that's been established and can't wait to get back out on the field!"

In his first season with FIU, the Panthers boasted a total of four players earn All-Conference USA status and three honored with selection to the 2022 College Football News Freshman All-America squad.
 
Prior to his arrival in Miami, Dewitt was the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at North Carolina under legendary head coach Mack Brown.
 
During the 2020 campaign, Dewitt's group of outside linebackers helped produce 36 sacks, the most for a Carolina defense since 2000 and tied for fifth nationally. The scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense all ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games.
 
Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Dewitt held the title of special teams coordinator at Nebraska (2018-19) and was the associate head coach while also having special teams coordinator and linebacker coach on his list of responsibilities.  His punt overage unit with the Huskers in 2019 seventh nationally while allowing only 2.3 yards per return.
 
Dewitt coached Butkus Award candidate Shaquem Griffin during his tenure at UCF.  He helped the Knights improve their scoring defense ranking by 65 spots, as UCF went from allowing 37.7 points per game in 2015 to 25.3 points per game in 2017 – when the Knights finished a perfect 13-0.  Griffin went on to be a fifth-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.
 
DeWitt has previously served as a defensive coordinator for nine seasons at FAU and Northern Michigan.  Including a Florida Atlantic unit that ranked 11th nationally in total defense in 2013.
 
Dewitt has also excelled at player development, as he has coached an all-conference linebacker in four of the last five seasons and has tutored two conference defensive players of the year in the past 10 years, including one national defensive player of the year.

Nick Coleman Timeline

2024	FIU	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
2022-23	UAB	Quarterbacks Coach
2021-22	South Carolina	Offensive Analyst
2020	NE Mississippi CC	Offensive Coordinator
2018-19	Murray State	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
2017	Tennessee Tech	Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator
2014-16	Itawamba CC	Offensive Coordinator
2012-13	Faulkner University	Offensive Coordinator
2011	Faulkner University	Quarterbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2010	Middle Tennessee	Graduate Assistant (Offense)

 
Jovan Dewitt Timeline

2022-present	FIU	Defensive Coordinator (Linebackers)
2020-2021	North Carolina	Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
2018-19	Nebraska	Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
2016-17	UCF	Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers
2014-15	Army	Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
2013	FAU	Interim Defensive Coordinator
2012-13	FAU	Linebackers
2009-11	Northern Iowa	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2006-08	St. Norbert	Defensive Coordinator
2004-05	Northern Michigan	Defensive Coordinator
2003	Fairmont State	Special Teams/Running Backs
2002	Fort Scott CC	Special Teams/Running Backs
2000-01	Northern Michigan	Graduate Assistant/Running Backs/Academic Coordinator

 
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