Ted Roof Hired as Kevin T. Fee Family Defensive Coordinator
January 06, 2026 | Football
Roof arrives at The Heights bringing nearly four decades of collegiate coaching experience
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College Head Football Coach Bill O'Brien has hired Ted Roof as Kevin T. Fee Family Defensive Coordinator.
Roof first became a defensive coordinator in 1995-96 at Massachusetts. He has led defenses at Georgia Tech, Duke, Minnesota, Auburn, UCF, Penn State, North Carolina State, Appalachian State, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma during his career. He also served as Head Coach at Duke from 2004-07. In all, he has mentored over 110 student-athletes who went on to the professional ranks.
Roof has been part of teams that combined for 17 bowl appearances, including a Bowl Championship Series national title run as Auburn's defensive coordinator following the 2010 season. He has 30-plus years of Power 4 coaching experience.
Roof mostly recently served as Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers at UCF. Under Roof's tutelage, defensive back Mac McWilliams was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, becoming just one of two Knights drafted that season. In addition, two other members of Roof's defense, defensive back BJ Adams and defensive tackle Ricky Barber, signed contracts with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders as undrafted free agents following the Draft.
Before his time at UCF, Roof spent two seasons at Oklahoma as Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers. In 2023, the Sooners ranked third nationally in takeaways per game (2.0), seventh in tackles for loss per game (7.5) and 14th in third down defense. Roof coordinated a 2022 Oklahoma defense that tied for fourth nationally with 104 tackles for loss (8.0 per game) and ranked seventh with 17 interceptions. Linebacker Danny Stutsman led the Big 12 and ranked 14th in the country with 125 total tackles. Fellow linebacker David Ugwoegbu ranked fourth in the conference with 109 tackles, which tied for 36th nationally.
Prior to his time at Oklahoma, Roof spent the 2021 season on Clemson's staff as a Defensive Analyst. That year, Roof assisted a Tigers defense that finished top-5 in the ACC in several categories, including second in sacks (42), third in fumbles recovered (8), and fifth in interceptions (12).Â
Prior to his season at Clemson, he was the Defensive Coordinator at Vanderbilt in 2020 and at Appalachian State in 2019. He helped the Mountaineers to a 13-1 record and No. 19 final AP ranking and guided a unit that led the nation in defensive touchdowns.
In 2019, Roof's defense helped pave the way for Appalachian State's sixth conference championship and fifth bowl victory in the past decade. The Mountaineers ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense (21st) and total defense (25th). The unit also ranked ninth nationally in third-down defense (30.7%), 16th in interceptions (14) and 19th in sacks (36).
Before his time at Appalachian State, Roof served as Associate Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator at NC State in 2018, helping the Wolfpack to a 9-4 record and Gator Bowl appearance.
Roof's head coaching tenure came at Duke, where he first served as Defensive Coordinator during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He was promoted to Interim Head Coach during the 2003 season and held the position for four more years.
After his time in Durham, Roof served as Defensive Coordinator at Minnesota (2008), Auburn (2009-11) and Penn State under Coach O'Brien (2012) before returning to his alma mater — Georgia Tech — for five seasons (2013-17).
As Auburn's Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach, he helped guide the Tigers to at least seven wins in each of his three seasons, which included a 14-0 campaign and BCS National Championship in 2010. In the national title game, Auburn held Oregon to 19 points, which was 30 points below the Ducks' season average.
During his most recent stint at Georgia Tech (2013-17), Roof helped the Yellow Jackets to an ACC Coastal Division title and a 2014 Orange Bowl victory over Mississippi State. The 2013 defense ranked in the top 30 nationally in points and yards allowed, and his 2015 group boasted the country's most-improved third-down defense while ranking sixth nationally in first downs allowed.
From 2008-20, Roof's defenses limited opponents to 110 or fewer rushing yards 57 times and posted a 48-9 record in such games.
Roof's first stint at Georgia Tech came in 1998 as Linebackers Coach before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator, a position he held from 1999-01.
Prior to moving to Atlanta, he was the Defensive Coordinator at Western Carolina (1997) and Massachusetts (1995-96). He coached the defensive line at UMass (1994) and linebackers at Duke (1990-93) and West Georgia (1989). Roof began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Alabama from 1987-88.
A Lawrenceville, Ga. native, Roof was a four-year letterwinner (1982-85) and three-year starter at Georgia Tech as a linebacker. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 1982 and was a team captain and First-Team All-ACC selection as a senior in 1985 when the Yellow Jackets went 9-2-1 and beat Michigan State in the All-American Bowl. He remains among the top 10 in Georgia Tech history in career tackles with 417 stops, and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998. After his time in Atlanta, Roof had a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before going into coaching.Â
Coaching Career
2026-Present: Boston College (Defensive Coordinator)
2024: UCF (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2022-23: Oklahoma (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2021: Clemson (Defensive Analyst)
2020: Vanderbilt (Defensive Coordinator)
2019: Appalachian State (Defensive Coordinator)
2018: North Carolina State (Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator)
2013-17: Georgia Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
2012: Penn State (Defensive Coordinator)
2011: UCF (Defensive Coordinator)
2009-10: Auburn (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2008: Minnesota (Defensive Coordinator)
2004-07: Duke (Head Coach)
2002-03: Duke (Interim Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
1999-01: Georgia Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
1998: Georgia Tech (Linebackers)
1997: Western Carolina (Defensive Coordinator)
1995-96: Massachusetts (Defensive Coordinator)
1994: Massachusetts (Outside Linebackers/Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
1990-93: Duke (Linebackers)
1989: West Georgia (Linebackers)
1987-88: Alabama (Graduate Assistant)
Roof first became a defensive coordinator in 1995-96 at Massachusetts. He has led defenses at Georgia Tech, Duke, Minnesota, Auburn, UCF, Penn State, North Carolina State, Appalachian State, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma during his career. He also served as Head Coach at Duke from 2004-07. In all, he has mentored over 110 student-athletes who went on to the professional ranks.
Roof has been part of teams that combined for 17 bowl appearances, including a Bowl Championship Series national title run as Auburn's defensive coordinator following the 2010 season. He has 30-plus years of Power 4 coaching experience.
Roof mostly recently served as Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers at UCF. Under Roof's tutelage, defensive back Mac McWilliams was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, becoming just one of two Knights drafted that season. In addition, two other members of Roof's defense, defensive back BJ Adams and defensive tackle Ricky Barber, signed contracts with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders as undrafted free agents following the Draft.
Before his time at UCF, Roof spent two seasons at Oklahoma as Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers. In 2023, the Sooners ranked third nationally in takeaways per game (2.0), seventh in tackles for loss per game (7.5) and 14th in third down defense. Roof coordinated a 2022 Oklahoma defense that tied for fourth nationally with 104 tackles for loss (8.0 per game) and ranked seventh with 17 interceptions. Linebacker Danny Stutsman led the Big 12 and ranked 14th in the country with 125 total tackles. Fellow linebacker David Ugwoegbu ranked fourth in the conference with 109 tackles, which tied for 36th nationally.
Prior to his time at Oklahoma, Roof spent the 2021 season on Clemson's staff as a Defensive Analyst. That year, Roof assisted a Tigers defense that finished top-5 in the ACC in several categories, including second in sacks (42), third in fumbles recovered (8), and fifth in interceptions (12).Â
Prior to his season at Clemson, he was the Defensive Coordinator at Vanderbilt in 2020 and at Appalachian State in 2019. He helped the Mountaineers to a 13-1 record and No. 19 final AP ranking and guided a unit that led the nation in defensive touchdowns.
In 2019, Roof's defense helped pave the way for Appalachian State's sixth conference championship and fifth bowl victory in the past decade. The Mountaineers ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense (21st) and total defense (25th). The unit also ranked ninth nationally in third-down defense (30.7%), 16th in interceptions (14) and 19th in sacks (36).
Before his time at Appalachian State, Roof served as Associate Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator at NC State in 2018, helping the Wolfpack to a 9-4 record and Gator Bowl appearance.
Roof's head coaching tenure came at Duke, where he first served as Defensive Coordinator during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He was promoted to Interim Head Coach during the 2003 season and held the position for four more years.
After his time in Durham, Roof served as Defensive Coordinator at Minnesota (2008), Auburn (2009-11) and Penn State under Coach O'Brien (2012) before returning to his alma mater — Georgia Tech — for five seasons (2013-17).
As Auburn's Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach, he helped guide the Tigers to at least seven wins in each of his three seasons, which included a 14-0 campaign and BCS National Championship in 2010. In the national title game, Auburn held Oregon to 19 points, which was 30 points below the Ducks' season average.
During his most recent stint at Georgia Tech (2013-17), Roof helped the Yellow Jackets to an ACC Coastal Division title and a 2014 Orange Bowl victory over Mississippi State. The 2013 defense ranked in the top 30 nationally in points and yards allowed, and his 2015 group boasted the country's most-improved third-down defense while ranking sixth nationally in first downs allowed.
From 2008-20, Roof's defenses limited opponents to 110 or fewer rushing yards 57 times and posted a 48-9 record in such games.
Roof's first stint at Georgia Tech came in 1998 as Linebackers Coach before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator, a position he held from 1999-01.
Prior to moving to Atlanta, he was the Defensive Coordinator at Western Carolina (1997) and Massachusetts (1995-96). He coached the defensive line at UMass (1994) and linebackers at Duke (1990-93) and West Georgia (1989). Roof began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Alabama from 1987-88.
A Lawrenceville, Ga. native, Roof was a four-year letterwinner (1982-85) and three-year starter at Georgia Tech as a linebacker. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 1982 and was a team captain and First-Team All-ACC selection as a senior in 1985 when the Yellow Jackets went 9-2-1 and beat Michigan State in the All-American Bowl. He remains among the top 10 in Georgia Tech history in career tackles with 417 stops, and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998. After his time in Atlanta, Roof had a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before going into coaching.Â
Coaching Career
2026-Present: Boston College (Defensive Coordinator)
2024: UCF (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2022-23: Oklahoma (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2021: Clemson (Defensive Analyst)
2020: Vanderbilt (Defensive Coordinator)
2019: Appalachian State (Defensive Coordinator)
2018: North Carolina State (Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator)
2013-17: Georgia Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
2012: Penn State (Defensive Coordinator)
2011: UCF (Defensive Coordinator)
2009-10: Auburn (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2008: Minnesota (Defensive Coordinator)
2004-07: Duke (Head Coach)
2002-03: Duke (Interim Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
1999-01: Georgia Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
1998: Georgia Tech (Linebackers)
1997: Western Carolina (Defensive Coordinator)
1995-96: Massachusetts (Defensive Coordinator)
1994: Massachusetts (Outside Linebackers/Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator)
1990-93: Duke (Linebackers)
1989: West Georgia (Linebackers)
1987-88: Alabama (Graduate Assistant)
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