Mario Cristobal’s Oregon defensive coordinator hired at Texas Tech

Mario Cristobal’s Oregon defensive coordinator, Tim DeRuyter has been hired at Texas Tech. The decision by DeRuyter to take the job with the Red Raiders means both Cristobal and Miami will be looking for a new defensive coordinator in 2022. Former Miami head coach Manny Diaz was the defensive coordinator in 2021.

Oregon allowed 25.5 points per game in 2021, which was 60th nationally. The Ducks were 58th in allowing 370.8 yards per game. With Diaz returning to running the Miami defense in 2021, the Hurricanes allowed 28.4 PPG which was 85th. Miami was 77th allowing 389.6 YPG. The Hurricanes need to improve defensively in 2022.

DeRuyter takes over a Texas Tech defense that allowed 32.1 PPG that was 104th nationally. The Red Raiders allowed 410.8 YPG that was 91st nationally. Texas Tech finished 6-6 during the 2021 regular season. Cristobal led Oregon to 10-3 regular season. Under Diaz, Miami finished 7-5 during the regular season under Diaz.

One name that has been linked to Miami to run Mario Cristobal’s defense has been former Washington head coach Jimmy Lake. Lake was fired after going 4-5 in 2021 after issues arose with players. Washington allowed a respectful 22.7 PPG which is 38th nationally. The Huskies were 25th in total defense allowing 336.9 YPG.

Cristobal hopes to bring his co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Ken Wilson with him to Miami according to Scott Roussel of Football Scoops. Wilson spent the last three seasons on the Ducks staff. Prior to being hired by Oregon, Wilson was on the staff at Washington State for six seasons.

The first full-time assistant job for Wilson was coaching nearly every position at Oregon from 1989 through 2012. Zach Barnett of Football Scoop is reporting that Wilson could be a candidate to become the head coach at Nevada. Cristobal has a staff to build while trying to recruit less than a week until Early National Signing Day.