In addition, establishing the renewed defensive prowess of Oklahoma, the program will now claim four staff members (Venables, Dreiling, Goodwin and Brandon Hall) who have occupied the role of defensive coordinator in their careers, and two others (Todd Bates And Jay Valai) which currently serve as co-defensive coordinators. As part of the staff, Venables will serve as a defensive game player on match days.
“I have thought about all the facets of our program in recent weeks,” said Venables. “Since I was hired as head coach, we have carefully assembled the defensive staff and the diagram that is suitable to compete at the highest level, and we have built a deep and talented list ready for the moment. High expectations for our program and will do everything in my power to achieve our goals for our players.
“The addition of Nate and Wes to our team, with their vast diversified experience, simply adds to my expectations and my excitations for our defensive unity. I am energized by the prospect of getting back into the game and for the continuous momentum that I see us winning with the strategic movements that we make on both sides of the ball. Ben Arbuckle As a young, innovative and proven offensive coordinator, as well as the talented players that we added via the transfer portal, just as enthusiastic about the immediate future of our offense. “”
Dreiling comes in Oklahoma from Arkansas State, where he was hired on January 3 as a defensive coordinator after spending a season at Utah State as a defensive coordinator and acting chief coach. Goodwin, a former defensive analyst under Venables, has been Clemson’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach in the past three seasons.
Dreiling brings 10 years of experience in college coaching, including five as a defensive coordinator. In addition to his season in the state of Utah, he coordinated the defenses in the state of New Mexico (2022-23) and the state of Pittsburg (2018-19). He was raised to the Utah State interim coach on July 2 and guided the Aggies to a solid finish with victories in three of their last four games of the Mountain West conference. Throughout last season, he continued to serve as a defensive coordinator and coach for defensive ends. The state of Utah has been placed among the top 50 nationally in bags (2.33 per game; 44th) and interceptions (13; 36th), and eight players won the all- Mountain West.
Before the state of UTAH, Dreiling spent two seasons as a defensive coordinator of the state of the New Mexico. He helped guide the Aggies to a global record of 17-11 and consecutive Bowl matches, as well as an appearance during the 2023 USA conference championship match during their first year in the League. The defense of the NMSU ranked 44th on a national defense (22.4 points per game), 48th in precipitated defense (143.7 yards on the ground per match) and fifth in defense of the red zone ( 72.6%). During the first season of Dreiling in the state of the New Mexico, the Aggies went from 127th to 29th at the national level in total defense (336.3 yards per match authorized in 22) and ranked 16th by passing by passing (186.8 yards per match).
Dreiling was previously defensive analyst for Mario Cristobal staff at Oregon for the 2020 season. The Ducks won the PAC-12 title and played in the Fiesta Bowl, and transported the sixth-row recruitment class during the cycle from 2021.
Before his visit to Oregon, Dreiling spent three seasons to lead to his Alma Mater, in the state of Pittsburg. He resulted in security in 2017 and was promoted defensive coordinator for the 2018 seasons and 19. During his first season at Pittsburg State, he helped the Gorillas to rank 25th nationally with 25 take -out dishes and 19th With 12 escaped recovery. During her two seasons as a defensive coordinator of the state of Pittsburg, the Gorillas ranked among the first two of the Ohio Valley conference in 11 statistical categories in 2018 and 1919, and 17 players won honors of all conferences.
Dreiling was quadruple All-American in Pittsburg State (2010-13) and led the Gorillas to the National NCAA Division II championship in 2011, the same year he was appointed national defensive player of the year by the football committee From Don Hansen and the defensive player of the year of the Association of Intercolllegialegial Athletics in Miden Year (MIAA). He ended his career with plated at school and the Miaa record and was appointed Cosida Academic All-American in 2013.
Dreiling obtained his baccalaureate from Pittsburg State in 2013. He and his wife, Alexa, have two daughters (Baylor and Baisley) and a son (Baker).
Goodwin, who spent a total of 13 seasons on two stays in Clemson, was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021 in Clemson after Venables was appointed coach of Oklahoma. Previously, he was a graduate assistant from 2009-11 and under Venables as a defensive analyst of 2012-14 and senior defensive analyst of 2018-21. He also spent three years with the Cardinals of Arizona as an assistant of head coach Bruce Arianans from 2015 to 2017.
In 2024, Goodwin helped guide Clemson at the ACC championship and an appearance in the university football playoffs. The tigers ranked 10th nationally in take -out dishes (26), 14th in interceptions (16), 19th in escaped (10), 24th in plated for loss (6.9 per game), 37th in bags (2.5 per match) and 42nd in defense of the significant defense. (23.0 points per match).
The defense of Clemson in 2023 ranked eighth at the national level in total defense (287.8 yards authorized per game), eighth by the way (173.2 yards authorized per match), 24th in precipitated defense (114.6 Years allowed per game) and 30th in defense of rating (21.1 points authorized by game leave). Tigers have equaled to the national head of take -out (28), defensive touchdown (five) and choices of six peaks (four), school records established in 1990 for the affected and defensive interceptions returned for a TD . Clemson also ranked among the first 10 at the national level in First Downs authorized per game (14.2; third) and interceptions (16; tied in the 10th) in 2023.
During her first full season as a defensive coordinator in 2022, Clemson ranked among the top 25 nationally in the defense of Score (20.9 points authorized per game; 22nd), precipitated defense (102 , 7 yards authorized by match; 13th), yards authorized by postponement (3.25; ninth), bags (44; equally to the fourth) and plated for the loss (111; second).
Goodwin registered Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a finalist of the Prix du Butkus 2023 and a double second-scale secondary (2022 and 23), who has become a fifth round choice in the NFL recovery and plays for the Eagles of Philadelphia. Trott and the secondary Barrett Carter were one of the five defensive players of Clemson to obtain an all-ECC recognition in 2023. Carter also won the All-America honors in 2022 and was an all-ECC selection in the first team in 2024. Seconding Trenton Simpson was a high -end 100 pick in the recovery of the NFL 2023.
During the three years of Goodwin with the Cardinals of Arizona, the teams compiled a global record of 28-19-1. In 2015, the cardinals went 13-3 to win the western division of the NFC and reached the NFC championship match.
Goodwin began his coach career as a baseball director at Mississippi State under legendary coach Ron Polk before moving on to football. He was then a student assistant and a graduate assistant to the Bulldogs football program. Goodwin obtained his Mississippi state baccalaureate in 2007 and his master’s degree in 2009. He and his wife, Jennalee, have two daughters (Emma and Allie).
