Ted Roof is leaving his post as defensive coordinator at Penn State to return to his alma mater, Georgia Tech. Roof will join Paul Johnson's staff to serve as defensive coordinator. Penn State has already promoted from within to fill the coaching vacancy on the staff by naming John Butler defensive coordinator.
Roof was previously a member of Georgia Tech's coaching staff from 1998 through 2001 serving as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. He played linebacker for the Yellow Jackets from 1982 to 1985.
Penn State ended the 2012 season with the fourth best total defense in the Big Ten, allowing 353.4 yards per game (about 30 yards per game more than 2011 in 42 fewer total plays). Roof's defense allowed 19.1 points per game, good for second in the Big Ten, just 2.3 points behind the 2011 Nittany Lions. Georgia Tech finished fifth in the ACC in total defense (374 yards per game allowed) and seventh in scoring defense (28.3 points per game allowed).
Butler coached Penn State's defensive backs in 2012 in his first season with Penn State. The Philadelphia area native also helped with special teams. This will mark the first time Butler has been in charge of an entire defense, but like Roof he will have some solid position coaches helping him out on the staff. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden, the two holdovers from Joe Paterno's staff, are solid recruiters and members of the coaching staff under Bill O'Brien.
In addition, Philadelphia Inquirer Temple football beat reporter Keith Pompey reports longtime strength and conditioning and speed assistant Jeremy Scott has been hired by Temple.
Kevin McGuire is a national college football writer for Examiner.com and the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast. Follow McGuire on Twitter and nominate him for a Shorty Award. He can be reached at cfbexaminer@gmail.com.
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