Sources tell FootballScoop that Lane Kiffin has found his new defensive coordinator.
Glenn Spencer, who most recently coordinated the defense at Charlotte and has also coordinated the defense for Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, is joining Kiffin's staff as defensive coordinator, sources shared with us.
Back on December 3rd, we reported that Lane Kiffin was making a change at defensive coordinator, noting that Tony Pecoraro will not return in 2019 after one season.
Spencer spent ten years on staff in Stillwater, including five as the defensive coordinator. While with the Cowboys, Spencer initially worked with the defensive line in 2008 before moving to linebackers for a few seasons. In 2011, he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and took over as the sole play caller on defense in 2013.
Before joining Gundy's staff, Spencer was the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Duke, and has also coached at Georgia Tech and West Georgia during the course of coaching journey that stretches back to 1990. During that time, he has had one head coaching stint, at West Georgia from 1998-2000.
With Kiffin, Spencer will be tasked with rebuilding a defense that allowed nearly 32 points per game this season, which ranked 94th nationally while also giving up 186 rushing yards per game (87th), and 238 yards per game through the air (79th). Typically, the mark of a good defense is finding a way to get off the field on fourth down, and last year FAU ranked near the bottom of the barrel in that category at 90th nationally.
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