LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech has announced the hiring of Shiel Wood as their new defensive coordinator, a significant move as the Red Raiders begin to revamp a defense that struggled last season, finishing 15th out of 16 teams in the Big 12 Conference.
The announcement came on Wednesday, just three days following the termination of previous defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, along with Marcel Yates, who served as the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.
This marks Wood’s opportunity to lead the defense for a fifth different team over the span of five seasons. Prior to his role at Houston, he spent a year each at Tulane and Troy, and also held a two-season stint at Army, where he shared co-defensive coordinator duties during his second year.
Originally from South Carolina, Wood has experience as an assistant coach at several institutions, including Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Wofford. He had a significant impact during his tenure at Houston, where the Cougars vaulted to 26th in the nation in total defense, improving from 112th the year prior to his arrival alongside head coach Willie Fritz.
At both Troy and Tulane, Wood’s defenses consistently ranked among the top 10 nationally in terms of takeaways. Under his guidance, Troy achieved a remarkable 12-win season, capturing the Sun Belt Conference championship in 2022.
“Coach Wood brings a proven ability to enhance defenses and generate turnovers, which aligns perfectly with our strategic direction as we advance our program,” stated head coach Joey McGuire.
Currently, the Red Raiders find themselves at the bottom of the Big 12 regarding both total defense and scoring defense, allowing an average of 451.9 yards and 34.5 points per game. Texas Tech endured significant issues in pass defense, ranking last in the conference as well as 133rd out of 134 FBS teams, giving up an average of 305.3 yards per game through the air. They also allowed 26 touchdown passes, matching the worst in the Big 12.
In addition to the changes on the defensive side, Texas Tech will be appointing a new offensive coordinator following the departure of Zach Kittley, who accepted the head coaching position at Florida Atlantic.
