In a shocking move that sent shockwaves through the Texas Tech football program, head coach Joey McGuire announced on Sunday that defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter and secondary coach Marcel Yates have been fired effective immediately. The decision comes on the heels of a disappointing season for the Red Raiders defense, particularly in defending the pass.
“This was a difficult but necessary decision as we continue to elevate this program to competing annually at the highest levels of college football,” McGuire said in an official statement released by the university. The first-year head coach did not mince words about the need for drastic changes on that side of the ball.
Red Raiders Defense Hits Rock Bottom in Big 12
Texas Tech finished dead last in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed during the 2024 regular season, giving up a staggering 305.3 yards per game through the air. The Red Raiders fared only slightly better overall defensively, ranking 7th out of 10 teams in total defense.
The numbers paint an ugly picture:
- 120th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game
- 95th in the nation in total defense (413.2 yards/game)
- Allowed 400+ yards of offense in 8 of 12 games
- Gave up 30+ points six times, including 43 or more points four times
“I appreciate the work Coach DeRuyter and Coach Yates have provided our program the past three seasons,” McGuire went on to say. But ultimately, the on-field results sealed their fate and necessitated a shakeup.
Failed to Turn a Corner in DeRuyter’s 3rd Year
When Tim DeRuyter was hired as Texas Tech’s defensive coordinator in 2022, there were high hopes that the veteran coach with head coaching experience could turn around a unit that had long struggled. He had previously served as head coach at Fresno State from 2012-2016, leading the Bulldogs to two conference championships.
But after three seasons in Lubbock, DeRuyter was unable to build the Red Raiders into even an average defense, let alone a dominant one. Texas Tech ranked in the bottom half of the Big 12 in total defense and scoring defense in each of his three seasons.
Insider sources told ESPN that frustration had been mounting within the program about the lack of progress, with some players expressing concerns in recent weeks about whether the current defensive scheme and philosophy were fixable. Those private grumblings no doubt contributed to McGuire’s decisive action on Sunday.
What’s Next for the Texas Tech Defense?
In his statement, McGuire said he will name an interim defensive coordinator to coach the bowl game later this month. But attention now turns to who will take the reins permanently for the 2025 season and beyond.
Early names to watch, according to sources close to the program:
- Jim Leonhard – Recently stepped down as Wisconsin interim head coach/DC, wants to remain a defensive coordinator
- Glenn Schumann – Current co-DC at Georgia, could be ready to lead his own unit
- Chad Glasgow – TCU safeties coach/former Red Raiders DC, strong recruiter in Texas
Whomever McGuire tabs to lead the defense going forward, they will have their work cut out for them. In an offensive-minded conference like the Big 12, fielding even an above-average defense is a tall task. But for a program with Big 12 title aspirations like Texas Tech, an overhaul on that side of the ball was clearly needed.
The Red Raiders faithful are a passionate bunch, and they are hungry for the team to take the next step under their young, energetic head coach. If Joey McGuire can find the right person to transform the defense, Texas Tech’s ceiling could be as vast as the West Texas sky.
The rest of the Big 12, consider yourselves warned. The Red Raiders are serious about joining college football’s elite – and they’ll search far and wide for the defensive mastermind to help take them there.
