Florida State is hiring former Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt as an analyst to help fix a flailing defense, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Leavitt is expected to assist Seminoles defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett by bringing another experienced voice to help devising game plans.
The Athletic was first to report the hiring.
Leavitt was Florida State coach Willie Taggart’s defensive coordinator in Taggart’s only season at Oregon in 2017.
Leavitt stayed behind when Taggart took the Seminoles job, hoping to land the head-coaching job at Oregon. That went to Mario Cristobal. Leavitt remained defensive coordinator last season, but parted ways with Cristobal after the season and has been out of college coaching since.
Prior to joining the Ducks, Leavitt was Colorado’s defensive coordinator in 2015-16.
Florida State (1-1) allowed 1,040 yards total in its first two games against Boise State and UL Monroe, relinquishing double-digit leads in both.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.