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Red Raiders Hire Shiel Wood as Defensive Coordinator

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Timothy Hamm | Last updated Dec 4, 2024 8:35 PM ET

After finishing at No. 123 in the FBS in total defense in 2024, the Texas Tech Red Raiders football program relieved defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter of his duties.

On Wednesday they announced his replacement.

Although the Houston Cougars finished 4-8 on the season, their defense was ranked No. 26 in the nation. The architect of that defense, Shiel Wood, will now lead the Tech defense.

The Cougars finished the season allowing an average of just 188.8 yards passing per game this season. That's 104 spots better than where the Red Raiders finished after Tech allowed more than 300 per contest.

“We’re excited to welcome Coach Wood and his family to our program,” stated Joey McGuire, Tech head coach, in a Tech Athletics news release. “Coach Wood has a proven track record of immediately improving defenses and creating havoc with turnovers, which was exactly the philosophy we were looking for as we move forward as a program. We believe we have a strong, young nucleus defensively that is only going to improve under Coach Wood’s guidance.”

Although the Cougars did not have a great season in Woods' single season there, he does carry a resume of success with him.

In 2023 he ran the Tulane defense on an 11-3 team. They finished at the top of the American Athletic Conference in rushing yards allowed per game and turnovers.

Before that, Wood was at Troy University where his defense helped the Trojans to a Sun Belt Conference title. The defense ranked No. 6 in the country in 2022 in points allowed per game.