A championship pedigree returns to Chestnut Hill
Ted Roof, a Georgia native who once patrolled the linebacker corps for Georgia Tech’s famed defense in the 1980s, has been named the new defensive coordinator at Boston College.
Roof’s coaching journey has taken him from graduate assistant stints to defensive coordinator roles at powerhouse programs such as Auburn, where he helped guide a unit to a national championship, and more recently at Oklahoma, where his 2023 defense finished third nationally in several key metrics.
At Penn State in 2012 his defense topped the Big Ten in sacks, a testament to his knack for generating pressure and forcing turnovers.
His arrival at Boston College coincides with a 2025 season in which the Eagles allowed more than 32 points and 430 yards per game, figures that have prompted the administration to seek a turnaround.
Roof will work alongside head coach Bill O’Brien, a longtime professional partner who previously hired Roof as an offensive coordinator at Duke, creating a familiar collaborative dynamic.
The new coordinator emphasizes player development, summer preparation and incremental improvements, believing that small strategic adjustments can yield significant defensive gains.
By studying Boston College’s own offensive schemes, Roof plans to craft schemes that exploit the Eagles’ strengths while neutralizing their opponents, an approach he says will challenge the staff to refine their play‑calling.
The expectation is that Roof’s extensive experience at institutions that compete at the highest level will translate into a more disciplined, opportunistic unit capable of contending in the ACC.