Mike MacIntyre is back for his second season as head coach of the Florida International Golden Panthers after posting a 4-8 record in his debut year. Who will be joining him on the FIU coaching staff for the 2023 college football season?
FIU Golden Panthers Coaching Staff
Head Coach, Mike MacIntyre
Hired to replace Butch Davis following the 2021 college football season, MacIntyre leads the FIU coaching staff for the second season. In his first season at the helm, the experienced and versatile head coach helped turn around a program that had won just one game between the 2020 and 2021 college football campaigns.
MacIntyre has a history of success in a multitude of roles and programs. During his tenure as the head coach of Colorado, he was named the National Coach of the Year in 2016. In each of his previous stops as a head coach, he led his team to at least one double-digit win season after inheriting teams that had not tasted that level of success for several seasons.
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A former free safety at Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, MacIntyre utilized his playing expertise to transition into coaching primarily on the defensive side of the ball. Along with his college coaching experience, which is detailed below, he also worked as a defensive back coach for the New York Jets (2007) and the Dallas Cowboys (2003-2006) in the NFL.
- Georgia (graduate assistant, 1990-1991)
- Davidson College (defensive coordinator, 1992)
- UT-Martin (DC, 1993-1996)
- Temple (DB coach, 1997-1998)
- Ole Miss (WR coach, 1999-2000; DB coach, 2001-2002)
- Duke (DC, 2008-2009)
- San Jose State (HC, 2010-2012)
- Colorado (HC, 2013-2018)
- Ole Miss (DC, 2019)
- Memphis (DC, 2020-2021)
- FIU (HC, 2022-2023)
Offensive Coordinator, David Yost
David Yost became the offensive coordinator of the FIU coaching staff alongside head coach MacIntyre prior to the 2022 college football season. Renowned for developing college football quarterbacks, he also works with the program’s signal callers as the QB coach.
Yost’s experience as a quarterback coach at the college level includes working with Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Blaine Gabbert, Chase Daniels, and Brad Smith. His contribution in helping Love set multiple program records at Utah State led to him being named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in college football, after the 2018 season.
Known for his high-powered offenses as a coordinator, Yost joined the FIU coaching staff from Texas Tech. He began his college coaching career at Tiffin University in 1988, where he spent several seasons before moving up to the FBS level. Yost’s full college coaching résumé can be found below.
- Tiffin (WR coach, 1988-1989; OC, QB, WR coach, 1990-1995)
- Toledo (QB coach, recruiting coordinator, 1996-2000)
- Missouri (OC, QB coach, recruiting coordinator, 2009-2012; assistant head coach, 2011-2012)
- Washington State (inside WR coach, 2013-2015)
- Oregon (passing game coordinator, QB coach; 2016)
- Utah State (OC, QB coach, 2017-2018)
- Texas Tech (OC, QB coach, 2019-2021)
- FIU (OC, QB coach, 2022-2023)
Defensive Coordinator, Jovan Dewitt
Another addition to the FIU coaching staff alongside head coach MacIntyre in 2022, Jovan Dewitt serves as the defensive coordinator for the Golden Panthers. He is also responsible for the program’s linebacker group. He arrived in Florida after serving as the outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for North Carolina from 2020-2021.
Under Dewitt, North Carolina’s outside linebackers were extremely productive, while the defense ranked in the top half of the FBS in multiple defensive metrics. In his first season on the FIU coaching staff, he helped transform a unit that had ranked last in Conference USA in total defense in 2021, restricting yardage allowed by an average of over 40 yards per game.
A defensive standout for Northern Michigan as a player, Dewitt got his first college coaching gig with his alma mater in 2000. While his journey has taken him across the college football landscape, his career has been significantly intertwined with the Florida area, as demonstrated by his résumé below.
- Northern Michigan (graduate assistant, RB coach, academic coordinator, 2000-2001)
- Fort Scott CC (ST, RB coach, 2002)
- Farimont State (ST, RB coach, 2003)
- Northern Michigan (DC, 2004-2005)
- St. Norbert (DC, 2006-2008)
- Northern Iowa (DC, LB coach, 2009-2011)
- FAU (LB coach, 2012-2013; interim DC, 2013)
- Army (ST coordinator, OLB coach, 2014-2015)
- UCF (associate head coach, ST coordinator, LB coach, 2016-2017)
- Nebraska (ST coordinator, OLB coach, 2018-2019)
- North Carolina (ST coordinator, OLB coach, 2020-2021)
- FIU (DC, LB coach, 2022-2023)
Special Teams Coordinator, Zac Roper
A new addition to the FIU coaching staff for the 2023 college football season, Zac Roper arrives in Miami after spending last season as an offensive analyst for NC State.
A long-time coordinator and multi-position coach at Duke, Roper will be responsible for the Golden Panthers’ TE room as well as serving as the special teams coordinator — a role he held at both Duke and Cornell.
Offensive Line Coach, Joshua Eargle
After joining the FIU coaching staff as the tight end coach in 2022, Joshua Eargle will transition to offensive line coach for the Golden Panthers for the 2023 college football campaign. He previously held the role at Nicholls State (2007-2008) and Oachita Baptist (2005). His FBS résumé includes stops at Memphis, Kansas, LSU, and Southern Miss (two stints).
Running Backs Coach, Eric Hickson
Eric Hickson, a highly successful running back during his playing career, joined the FIU coaching staff as RB coach in 2022. He had previously served in the same role for the Miami Hurricanes from 2019-2022 and also coached rushers at Akron. Hickson is an alumnus of Kansas State, where he ranks fifth in career rushing yards and seventh in touchdowns from his time as a Wildcat.
Defensive Line Coach, George Frazier
A standout two-way player at the University of Colorado, George Frazier got his coaching break at Ole Miss as a graduate assistant. After spending 2020 in the same role at Memphis, he spent two years with UT Martin as the defensive line coach. His success there saw Frazier join the FIU coaching staff as the defensive line coach for the 2022 college football season.
Wide Receivers Coach, Jay MacIntyre
Another member of the FIU coaching staff to parlay a successful playing career at Colorado and coaching performance at UT Martin into a role with the Golden Panthers, Jay MacIntrye joined the FIU coaching staff in 2022 as WR coach. In his first season with FIU, LaJohntay Webster, and Tyrese Chambers both tallied over 500 receiving yards. He is the son of head coach MacIntyre.
Safeties Coach, Nate Taye
After spending the majority of his coaching career at Colorado, Nate Taye was named the safeties coach ahead of the 2022 college football season. He arrived in Miami after serving as an analyst on a Memphis coaching staff that featured FIU head coach MacIntyre. The two also previously worked together at San Jose State.
Outside Linebackers Coach, Anthony Gaitor
A standout playmaker for the Golden Panthers from 2007-2010, Anthony Gaitor was a productive defensive back who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. After stints on several NFL practice squads and four seasons in the CFL, Gaitor joined the FIU coaching staff in 2022 as a quality control analyst. He was promoted to OLB coach for the 2023 college football season.
Cornerbacks Coach, DeMarcus Van Dyke
After a college playing career for Miami (FL) that earned him a third-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, DeMarcus Van Dyke secured his first FBS coaching role with his alma mater in 2018. He was named the CB coach for the Hurricanes in 2021 and while reprise that role for the Golden Panthers after joining the FIU coaching staff ahead of the 2023 college football season.
