Georgia Tech is back in the market for a defensive coordinator, and the search could go in a few different directions.
With the Yellow Jackets moving on from Jason Semore, the next hire will matter plenty for a defense that has struggled in 2026 and, by the source’s framing, for much of the Brent Key era. There are a few names worth keeping on the board, and the list includes both established veterans and younger coaches who have built strong resumes.
One of the most proven options is Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker. Iowa has long been known for defense, and this season the Hawkeyes have backed that reputation with the No. 5 run defense at 81.9 rushing yards allowed per game, the No. 9 total defense at 276.7 yards allowed per game, and the No. 7 third-down defense at 29.1%. That production has helped fuel Iowa’s 7-2 start, and the unit has also posted three shutouts this season.
Parker’s case starts with longevity and ends with results. He has been Iowa’s defensive coordinator for 15 seasons, won the Broyles Award and the AFCA Assistant Coach Of the Year in 2023, and is the longest-tenured defensive coordinator in the sport.
His track record includes sending plenty of defensive backs to the NFL, with names such as Cooper DeJean, Riley Moss, Amani Hooker, and Micah Hyde among them. He may have no interest in leaving Iowa, but he is the kind of coach Georgia Tech should at least talk to.
Another name that fits the profile is Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. He is younger than Parker, but his work has already earned major recognition.
Haines won the Broyles Award in 2025 for the Hoosiers after helping build one of the top defenses in the country, and he is in his third season as Indiana’s defensive coordinator. He has also been with Curt Cignetti for 12 seasons.
This year, Indiana’s defense ranks among the nation’s best in sacks, scoring defense, rush defense, and team passing efficiency defense. Haines has been tied to Cignetti going back to their James Madison days, so prying him away would not be easy. Still, he is the kind of coach who could be worth a serious conversation if he wants a chance to make his own mark.
There is also a more immediate internal option in Jason Semore, who will serve as the interim defensive coordinator for the rest of the season and call plays. The final three games will give him a real chance to show what he can do. Georgia Tech’s defense has been near the bottom of most statistical categories, but there is still room to see whether the young players can develop and whether the unit can improve.
The source points to specific areas that need work: forcing more turnovers, cutting down on explosive plays, cleaning up communication issues, and maybe, just maybe, holding an opponent under 25 points. Georgia Tech’s final three opponents are Clemson, Wake Forest, and Georgia, and those games will serve as an audition for Semore. If the defense shows real progress, he could make a case to keep the job in 2026.
A final name to watch is Texas Tech assistant coach Shiel Wood. He has built a strong reputation and was a finalist for the Broyles Award. Wood has been coaching in college football since 2007, when he started at Wofford, and most of his career has come in the Group of Six before stops with Houston and Texas Tech.
His defenses have shown a knack for creating havoc. Last season, Texas Tech led the NCAA in takeaways with 32.
This year, the Red Raiders are tied for eighth with 29 sacks, averaging 3.22 per game, and rank in the top 35 in tackles for loss at 6.2 per game. Wood has also coached at Army, Troy, and Tulane, in addition to Houston and Texas Tech, giving him a broad background that could appeal to Georgia Tech.
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