TED ROOF DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR / LINEBACKERS GEORGIA TECH, 1986 FOURTH SEASON AT GEORGIA TECH @COACHTEDROOF Ted Roof has enjoyed success at Georgia Tech, his alma mater, as a player, an assistant coach and, most recently, as defensive coordinator. Roof is in his fourth season as coordinator of a rejuvenated Yellow Jacket defense that made strides during his tenure. In 2016, he added duties as the linebackers coach. In 2015, the Yellow Jacket defense ranked sixth nationally in fewest first downs allowed and were most improved in the nation in third down defense. Two members of last year’s unit were selected in the NFL Draft – defensive tackle Adam Gotsis in the second round (Denver Broncos) and D.J. White in the sixth round (Kansas City Chiefs). In 2014, Georgia Tech’s opportunistic defense produced 29 takeaways as a team, including 18 interceptions. The Yellow Jackets converted 21 of their 29 takeaways into points, including a school-record six defensive touchdowns. Roof’s 2014 defense was led by All-ACC performers Adam Gotsis, P.J. Davis, Quayshawn Nealy, Jamal Golden, and Freshman All-American KeShun Freeman. The Yellow Jackets also created a turnover on an FBS-best 26 percent of opponents’ possessions. After returning to the Flats in January of 2013, it took Roof just 15 spring practices and a month of August practices to successfully install a multiple 4-3 scheme. In Roof’s first season as defensive coordinator, Tech made significant improvements in rushing defense, scoring defense, total defense and third down defense. In 2013, Georgia Tech shut out both Elon and Syracuse -- the first time since 1985 - with Roof as a key player at linebacker - that the Yellow Jackets recorded two shutouts in one season. Roof and his staff helped tutor senior Jeremiah Attaochu, who moved from outside linebacker in 2012 to defensive end in 2013, and earned All-ACC and All-American honors in 2013. Attaochu used a late-season surge to break Georgia Tech’s career sacks record. Attaochu (second round), Thomas (sixth round) and Brandon Watts (seventh Round) were all selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. One of the most-respected defensive minds in college football, Roof has strong ties to Georgia Tech. He was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker under head coach Bill Curry from 1982-85. As a senior, Roof was co-captain and a first-team All-ACC selection on a team that finished 9-2-1 and defeated Michigan State in the All-American Bowl. He was named All-American. Roof remains one of the most prolific tacklers in Yellow Jackets history with 417 career tackles. He made 25 tackles in one game against Tennessee in 1985. Roof was enshrined into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998. That same year, Roof returned to Georgia Tech to serve as linebackers coach under head coach George O’Leary. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1999 and held that position for three years. The Yellow Jackets shared an ACC title in 1998 and played in a bowl game all four years during Roof’s tenure. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Roof attended Central Gwinnett High School. Roof came back to Georgia Tech after serving the 2012 season as defensive coordinator at Penn State, where he worked under another former Yellow Jacket assistant coach, Bill O’Brien. The Nittany Lions exceeded all expectations by posting an 8-4 record. Roof’s defense ranked second in the Big Ten Conference in scoring defense (19.1 ppg), first in sacks (34), first in red-zone defense and third in turnover margin. Nationally, Penn State tied for first in red-zone defense, ranked 15th in sacks, 16th in scoring defense, 23rd in rushing defense, 28th in pass efficiency defense and 29th in total defense. Two of the Big Ten’s top six tacklers were Nittany Lions - Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti. Hodges was named first team all-conference and Mauti was named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. Prior to working at Penn State, Roof was the defensive coordinator at Auburn for three years, including the Tigers’ BCS national championship season in 2010. In 2010 at Auburn, Roof’s defense ranked ninth nationally in rushing defense and 16th in tackles for loss. In the BCS Championship game, the Tigers (14-0) held Oregon to 19 points - 28 points below the Ducks’ season average. Prior to coaching at Auburn, Roof spent the 2008 season as defensive coordinator at Minnesota. In just one season under Roof, the Gophers made significant improvements on defense, allowing 160 fewer passing yards and 135 fewer total yards per game compared to the previous season. Minnesota improved from 1-11 to 7-6 in 2008, capped by an appearance in the Insight Bowl. From 2004-07, Roof served as head coach at Duke after working as the Blue Devils’ defensive coordinator in 2002 and 2003. He was promoted to interim head coach midway through the 2003 season after head coach Carl Franks was fired. In 2001, the year before Roof arrived in Durham, Duke ranked 113th nationally (out of 115) in rushing defense. In Roof’s first season at Duke in 2002, the Blue Devils ranked first in the ACC in that category. Roof’s coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 1987 and 1988. After one year as linebackers coach at West Georgia, he moved to Duke to coach linebackers from 1990 to 1993. Other coaching stops included 1994-96 (defensive coordinator in 1995-96) at Massachusetts and 1997 (defensive coordinator) at Western Carolina before returning to Tech in 1998. In all, Roof has coached 29 years on the collegiate level. More than 80 players that he has coached went on to sign NFL contracts and more than 20 players are currently on NFL rosters. Roof and wife, Pam Ash-Roof, have twin boys, Terrence and Michael. THE ROOF FILE PERSONAL Born December 11, 1963 Education Georgia Tech, 1986 Family wife Pam Ash-Roof; sons Terrence and Michael PLAYING EXPERIENCE 1982-85 Georgia Tech (1985 All-ACC first-team LB) COACHING EXPERIENCE 1987-88 Graduate Assistant, Alabama 1989 Linebackers, West Georgia 1990-93 Linebackers, Duke 1994 Defensive Line / Recruiting Coordinator, UMass 1995-96 Defensive Coordinator, UMass 1997 Defensive Coordinator, Western Carolina 1998 Linebackers, Georgia Tech 1999-2001 Defensive Coordinator, Georgia Tech 2002-03 Defensive Coordinator, Duke 2004-07 Head Coach, Duke 2008 Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota 2009-11 Defensive Coordinator, Auburn 2012 Defensive Coordinator, Penn State 2013-15 Defensive Coordinator, Georgia Tech 2016-present Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers, Georgia Tech