Texas Tech University Athletics
Glasgow Looks For Speedy Transition To Texas Tech
June 16, 2011 | Football
Photo Gallery June 16, 2011
By Matt Dowdy
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
If Chad Glasgow had his way, the Texas Tech defense would be comprised of speed, speed, and probably more speed.
The first-year defensive coordinator, only months on the job, arrived in Lubbock looking to remold a young unit into one of the premier groups in the country, bringing a new 4-2-5 scheme with him.
"Any time you come into a new situation, you always have to look at what you have and adapt," Glasgow said. "I felt like our guys did a good job all spring learning and getting better."
After 10 seasons as the secondary coach at TCU, Glasgow made the move into his first coordinator's job in January, joining head coach Tommy Tuberville and the Red Raiders a week before National Signing Day.
Since then, it's been full-steam ahead for the former Oklahoma State linebacker both on the practice field and on the recruiting front.
Normally one of the most noticeable voices throughout workouts, Glasgow will look to transform a young unit into the one he had at TCU. The Horned Frogs led the nation in total defense in each of the past three seasons and five times in the last decade.
To do so, Glasgow says the Red Raiders will need speed throughout the field.
"We want our defense to be quick and fast," said Glasgow, who was named the 2010 National Defensive Backs Coach of the Year by Footballscoop.com. "We need every guy running to the football and getting there quickly."
One aspect Glasgow preached all spring was all 11 bodies doing their own job, that way each person was responsible as a team.
In a scheme such as a 4-2-5, Glasgow stressed the importance of each person picking up his own responsibility whether it is proper alignment, pad possession, or coverage.
That's how the best defenses are formed, Glasgow said.
"We want our guys working as one and I thought our guys did a good job of that during the spring," Glasgow said. "Of course we were facing our offense all spring, but you still have to have every Texas Tech Red Raider working as one and that's the only way you're going to get better."
While most of his first few months have been spent getting the Red Raiders ready for next fall, Glasgow is also looking towards the future.
Despite his January hire, Glasgow was able to put his touch on the top recruiting class in school history that ranked in the top 20 by most publications.
With that class expected to officially report in early August, Glasgow and company have already set their sights on the future, looking for the top defensive prospects around the country.
To get a feeling what Glasgow is looking for in a potential prospect, all anyone has to look for is that same old term - speed.
"We want our players to be big and fast," Glasgow said with a grin. "You have to have some speed to play at this level. That's what we're looking for and that's how you build a top defense."
