Get to know Georgia Tech’s new defensive coordinator!
In year 2 under Brent Key, the Yellow Jackets are employing a handful of new coaches on the staff. None are more notable, though, than new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci who comes to Georgia Tech after most recently serving as the defensive coordinator at Duke. He replaced Kevin Sherrer as the DC/Linebackers coach.
Coaching History
- 2010: Stony Brook (Graduate Assistant for Linebackers)
- 2011: Stony Brook (Graduate Assistant for Defensive Line)
- 2012: Stony Brook (Safeties Coach)
- 2013: Stony Brook (Defensive Line Coach)
- 2014: Wake Forest (Graduate Assistant for Defensive Line)
- 2015: Wake Forest (Graduate Assistant for Linebackers)
- 2016: Texas State (Linebackers Coach)
- 2017: Notre Dame (Defensive Analyst)
- 2018: Texas A&M (Defensive Analyst)
- 2019: Wake Forest (Linebackers Coach)
- 2020-2021: Texas A&M (Linebackers Coach)
- 2022: Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach)
- 2023: Duke (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach)
Coming to Georgia Tech, Santucci has his work cut out for him. Despite finishing the season with a winning record and the defense doing better with the eye test following Andrew Thacker’s dismissal, it was still a very dismal season for the Georgia Tech defense, specifically against the run.
Data visualization courtesy of GameOnPaper.com
One thing that bodes well in improving Georgia Tech’s rush defense is that Santucci’s linebackers have generally done well in causing havoc plays in the form of tackles for loss. With not a lot of experience returning at linebacker, Santucci’s experience coaching up linebackers will be key.
Even after the Spring, it looks like the defense is already starting to improve. In his post-Spring game recap, SI’s Jackson Caudell noted the success of the defense, specifically mentioning the linebackers and Warren Burrell in the secondary.
Santucci is in his first season with Georgia Tech, but it’s already shaping up to be a very important year for him, because if he can improve the defense to at least average, Georgia Tech could be looking at a helluva season.