Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
Tim DeRuyter, one of the top defensive minds in college football and a former collegiate head coach, enters his third season as the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech.
The 2024 season will mark the 23rd-consecutive season DeRuyter has served as either a defensive coordinator or a head coach following previous stops leading successful defenses at California (2017-20) and Oregon (2021) before joining Joey McGuire’s charter staff at Texas Tech. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Fresno State for four-plus seasons, leading the Bulldogs to two Mountain West Conference titles. DeRuyter, a 2018 semifinalist for the Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant coach, has coached in 20 bowl games over his career and been part of six conference championship teams.
DeRuyter’s experience building strong, aggressive defenses has paid dividends in his first two seasons as the Red Raiders have surrendered less than 30.0 points per game in consecutive years for the first time since the 2008-09 campaigns. Texas Tech is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory as the Red Raiders allowed only 26.0 points per game in 2023 – their lowest average since 2009 – en route to their second-consecutive season with a winning Big 12 record.
The Red Raiders finished 8-5 overall in his debut season in 2022 thanks to four-consecutive victories to close the season, including a strong defensive performance to top Ole Miss in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. It marked the first time since 1995 the Red Raiders had ended a season on a four-game winning streak, which also helped Texas Tech record its most Big 12 victories in a year since 2009. The Red Raiders utilized another strong end-of-season finish to advance to the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl this past season, topping Cal after shutting out the Golden Bears over the final three quarters.
Under DeRuyter, the Red Raiders quickly adopted a “put out the fire” mentality through takeaways as well as red zone and fourth down stops. Texas Tech was, in particular, strong in those final two areas during the 2022 season, leading the Big 12 in both fourth down and red zone defense, while also ranking eighth and ninth in the two categories nationally, respectively. Additionally, the Red Raiders were among the top teams in the country in limiting opponents to only a field goal as Texas Tech led all power-five schools and ranked fourth in the FBS for red zone conversions that were the result of a field goal.
Part of Texas Tech’s early success defensively stemmed from the play of Tyree Wilson, who flourished in DeRuyter’s scheme, moving to the outside linebacker and rush end position that has consistently produced future NFL draft picks. Wilson put together his best season as a Red Raider under DeRuyter in 2022 as he totaled a career-best 61 tackles, including 14.0 behind the line of scrimmage and 7.0 sacks, despite missing the final four games due to injury.
Wilson’s ability to impact opposing offenses earned him first team All-America honors by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), making him the 32nd Red Raider all-time to be named to the first team and the first defensive end to do so since Montae Reager in 1998. Wilson, also an All-Big 12 first team selection, was tabbed a first team All-American by the likes of USA Today, The Athletic and Phil Steele Magazine as well.
Wilson became the third different rush end under DeRuyter to hear his name called in the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft that next spring as the Las Vegas Raiders selected him seventh overall, making him the highest-drafted Red Raider defensive player in program history. Wilson's selection tied for the second-highest drafted player in school history and is the highest pick in the modern era. Wilson was the fifth Red Raider all-time to go in the top 10 picks, joining the likes of Dave Parks (No. 1 overall, 1964), Donny Anderson (No. 7 overall, 1965), Michael Crabtree (No. 10 overall, 2009) and Patrick Mahomes II (No. 10 overall, 2017). All four of those individuals are already inductees into the Texas Tech Ring of Honors.
Wilson is one of 19 players to be drafted during DeRuyter’s storied career, which includes two other top-10 selections in NFL great Von Miller at Texas A&M and Kayvon Thibodeaux at Oregon as well as a pair of second rounders in quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Davante Adams during his tenure at Fresno State. DeRuyter added two new names to his NFL pupils following the 2023 season as defensive back Dadrion Taylor-Demerson was selected in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals, while edge end Myles Cole was picked in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Oregon closed DeRuyter’s lone season on staff ranked No. 21/22 in the final polls after compiling a 10-4 record, which featured appearances in the Pac-12 Championship and the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Ducks boasted one of the nation’s most opportunistic defenses in 2021 as Oregon closed the year ranked fifth in the FBS with 17 interceptions and 26th nationally with 22 total takeaways.
DeRuyter’s unit featured two of the nation’s top players in Thibodeaux and safety Verone McKinley III. Thibodeaux, who became the first Oregon defensive standout to earn unanimous first team All-American accolades. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award and was later selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, marking only the second time in Oregon history a defensive player has been chosen in the top five.
McKinley, meanwhile, was a consensus All-American after sharing the FBS lead with six interceptions from his second spot in the Oregon defense. McKinley combined with Thibodeau to give Oregon its first pair of consensus All-Americans since 2014 and only its third tandem in program history. McKinley was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, becoming only the second Oregon defensive back to be recognized as a consensus All-American and be named a finalist for the award.
DeRuyter’s success at Oregon followed four successful seasons at Cal where he took a defense that allowed 42.6 points per game in the season prior to his arrival and immediately cut that in half by his second year. Cal ranked 22nd nationally in 2018 for scoring defense and No. 33 in 2019 after surrendering 20.4 and 21.9 points per game. The Golden Bears followed that by only giving up 26.5 points per game during his final season in 2020.
Cal held 20 of its last 24 opponents under DeRuyter to 24 points or less en route to a pair of postseason appearances at the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl and the 2019 Redbox Bowl. It marked the first time Cal had been to bowls in consecutive seasons since the 2008-09 campaigns. DeRuyter had 20 of his players earn All-Pac-12 honors during his tenure with five Golden Bears ultimately hearing their name called during the NFL Draft.
Evan Weaver was a highlight of DeRuyter’s defenses at Cal as the linebacker collected consensus first team All-America honors in 2019 after leading the country with a school record 182 tackles. Weaver, a finalist for the Butkus and Lombardi Awards, was tabbed the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year that season prior to being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was one of three Golden Bears to hear his name called in the 2020 draft and one of five Cal defensive standouts to head to the league during DeRuyter’s tenure.
Weaver was one of two All-Americans to star at Cal under DeRuyter as fellow linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk garnered second team recognition from Sports Illustrated just a year earlier after finishing with a team-high 148 tackles. Kunaszyk was also a first team All-Pac 12 honoree that season, one of an impressive 130 All-Conference selections to play under DeRuyter during his three decades of experience at the collegiate level.
DeRuyter moved back to his roots as a defensive coordinator following four-plus seasons at Fresno State where he compiled a 30-30 overall record. He led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Mountain West Conference titles in 2012 and 2013, marking Fresno State’s first conference crown since the 1999 season. It was the first time the Bulldogs had claimed consecutive conference championships since the 1992 and 1993 campaigns.
His work with the Bulldogs was impressive early as he took over a 4-9 team from the season before and improved Fresno State to 20-6 overall and 14-2 in Mountain West play over a two-year stretch. Fresno State closed the 2013 season – his second in charge of the program – at 11-2 overall, matching the school record for most wins in a season.
The Bulldogs boasted one of the top quarterbacks in college football under DeRuyter in Carr, who earned All-America honors in 2012 and 2013 and was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Year following those two seasons. He and Adams were two of six Bulldogs selected in the NFL Draft under DeRuyter as they were second round picks in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Fresno State tabbed DeRuyter as its head coach following a pair of successful seasons as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Texas A&M. The Aggies were a combined 16-10 in those two seasons with appearances in the Cotton Bowl (2010) and the Meineke Car Care Bowl (2011). DeRuyter was tabbed the interim head coach for Texas A&M’s win over Northwestern in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Miller flourished under DeRuyter’s direction with the Aggies, claiming the prestigious Butkus Award in 2010 as the nation’s top linebacker. Miller garnered first team All-America honors for the second time in his career that season before eventually being selected No. 2 overall the next spring by the Denver Broncos during the 2011 NFL Draft.
Even with the departure of Miller the next season, the Aggies featured one of the nation’s best front sevens after leading the country with 51 sacks (3.92 per game). Texas A&M also ranked third in the FBS with 8.0 tackles for loss per game as part of a defense that was 12th nationally in rushing defense, giving up only 101.9 yards per game.
Texas A&M was one of eight stops as a defensive coordinator for DeRuyter, who has also served in a similar role at Air Force (2007-09), Nevada (2005-06), Ohio (1995-98, 2002-04) and Navy (1999-00). DeRuyter has made three stops as a coach at the Air Force Academy, his alma mater, as he began his career as a graduate assistant under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Fisher DeBerry. He returned as a defensive assistant from 1989-92 while completing his seven-plus years of active military duty following graduation from the academy.
DeRuyter earned his bachelor’s degree in management from the Air Force Academy in 1985 and added a MBA in market strategy from Regis University in 1992. DeRuyter, a four-year letterwinner for the Falcons prior to earning his degree, spent two years in private business before returning to coaching in 1994.
DeRuyter and his wife, Kara, have a son, Jake, and a daughter, Christina, graduates of Air Force and Texas A&M, respectively. Christina DeRuyter is a former Texas Tech staff member, herself, as she was the Director of On-Campus Recruiting from 2019-20. She currently serves in the same capacity at Michigan.
TIM DERUYTER COACHING HISTORY
2022-present – Texas Tech Defensive Coordinator
2021 – Oregon Defensive Coordinator (Outside Linebackers)
2020 – Cal Co-Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach (Outside Linebackers)
2018-19 – Cal Defensive Coordinator (Outside Linebackers)
2017 – Cal Defensive Coordinator (Inside Linebackers)
2012-16 – Fresno State Head Coach
2010-11 – Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach
2008-09 – Air Force Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach
2007 – Air Force Defensive Coordinator (Safeties)
2005-06 – Nevada Co-Defensive Coordinator (Safeties)
2002-04 – Ohio Defensive Coordinator (Defensive Backs)
2001 – Navy Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
1999-00 – Navy Defensive Coordinator
1995-98 – Ohio Defensive Coordinator (Defensive Backs)
1991-92 – Air Force Secondary Assistant
1990 – Air Force Outside Linebackers Assistant
1989 – Air Force Inside Linebackers Assistant
1985 – Air Force Defensive Graduate Assistant
