Dave Wommack
Wommack spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, helping lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2009 ACC Championship and a trip to the Orange Bowl. Georgia Tech’s defense was ranked No. 28 in the nation his first year at the school when the Yellow Jackets were ACC Coastal Division co-champions and appeared in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. He coached three defensive players that went on to play in the NFL, including defensive back Morgan Burnett, defensive end Derrick Morgan and defensive lineman Michael Johnson.
Al Groh
Groh to switch Georgia Tech from a 4-3 to 3-4 alignment, and the transition has been ragged, even though the Yellow Jackets start nine upperclassmen on defense. Fired during the 2012 season when the Yellow Jackets had one of the nation's worst-ranked defenses — 89th in points allowed (30.2), 90th in total defense (431 yards per game) and 103rd in third-down efficiency.
Ted Roof
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at linebacker for head coach Bill Curry at Georgia Tech from 1982-85. He was named freshman All-American in 1982, was a first-team all-ACC honoree as a senior in 1985 and remains one of the school’s all-time leading tacklers with 417 career stops, which still ranks seventh in program history. Had a up and down five-year tenure at Tech as DC. During the five years at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets showed marked defensive improvement, ranking third in the ACC in 2017 in total defense versus ACC competition. The Jackets ranked second in the league in third down defense vs. league competition (11th in the FBS), and 17th nationally in first downs allowed. In 2015, Tech ranked sixth nationally in fewest first downs allowed and fielded the nation’s most-improved third-down defense. Ranked sixth nationally in fewest first downs allowed and fielding the nation’s most-improved third-down defense in 2015; Forced 29 turnovers (on an NCAA Division I FBS-best 26 percent of their opponents’ possessions) in 2014; Converted 21 of the 29 takeaways in 2014 into points, including a school- record six defensive touchdowns; In the past five years, his defense has boasted nine all-ACC selections and four NFL draft picks.
Nate Woody
It’s no secret that tackling has been an issue for Tech this year. The two big areas where the defense has improved from last year is in forcing turnovers and in swarming to the ball.
Charles Kelly
He was elevated to defensive coordinator for the Yellow Jackets in the sixth game of the 2012 season when Georgia Tech had a 2-4 record. Kelly helped GT finish out the season 5-3, including a Sun Bowl victory over Southern California where Kelly’s defense held the high-powered Trojans’ offense to just 205 yards and seven points. In 2011, Kelly’s defensive backs led a pass defense that finished No. 2 in the ACC. In 2009, Kelly’s unit helped Georgia Tech win the ACC Championship and go to the Orange Bowl, finishing 11-3. Kelly served as the Yellow Jackets’ special teams coordinator in 2006 and 2007, leading GT’s kick return defense to No. 2 in the country in 2007. Kelly coached punter Durant Brooks to the Ray Guy Award in 2007.