Georgia Tech has made a significant addition to its coaching staff, hiring Texas assistant coach Blake Gideon as its new defensive coordinator. This move is expected to bring a fresh perspective and new energy to the Yellow Jackets’ defense. 
Gideon, a former Texas All-Big 12 safety, has had an impressive coaching career so far. He spent the past four seasons coaching safeties with the Longhorns and was promoted to associate head coach for defense last year. During his tenure, Texas twice reached the College Football Playoff, including the semifinals of last season’s expanded 12-team format.
Under Gideon’s leadership, Texas finished No. 3 nationally in scoring defense and No. 7 in pass defense last season. The Longhorns also led the country in interceptions, averaging 1.4 per game. Gideon’s coaching expertise and experience will undoubtedly be valuable assets to Georgia Tech’s defense.
As a player, Gideon made 52 starts for the Longhorns from 2008-2011, where he was a four-time All-Big 12 honoree. After two seasons in the NFL, he began his coaching career as a quality control coach under Will Muschamp at Florida in 2014. He then spent one season at Auburn as a graduate assistant before coaching at Western Carolina, Georgia State, and Houston.
Gideon replaces Tyler Santucci, who left the Yellow Jackets to become the linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens. Tech’s defense made significant progress under Santucci’s leadership last season, finishing No. 54 in yards per game, a 69-spot improvement from 2023.
The addition of Gideon to Georgia Tech’s coaching staff is a significant step forward for the program. With his expertise and experience, the Yellow Jackets’ defense is expected to continue its upward trajectory. As the team prepares for the 2025 season, fans are eagerly anticipating the impact Gideon will have on the field.
Leave a Reply