Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy today announced the hiring of Wake Forest defensive backs coach Tim Duffie to the same position with the Cowboys. Duffie, a native of Texas and alumnus of Texas Tech, spent one season with the Deacons before bolting to Stillwater.
Per the official release from Oklahoma State:
"In his lone season at Wake, the Demon Deacons led the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranked 25th nationally in turnover margin." - OKState.com release
The Demon Deacon defense intercepted 11 passes and recorded 40 pass break-ups during the 2012 campaign and loses only one significant senior (Chibuikem Okoro) from the secondary. Whoever the next defensive backs coach is for Wake will inherit a veteran unit led by free safety A.J. Marshall and cornerbacks Kevin Johnson and Merrill Noel, who combined for 5 interceptions and 12 pass break-ups in 2012.
Duffe is the second position coach to leave Wake Forest for a lateral move during the offseason. Wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway left Winston-Salem in January to accept the same position at West Virginia. His position was filled last month by former Purdue wideout Taylor Stubblefield.
The Deacons begin spring practice on March 19.