PFF ranks the Top-10 defensive coordinators ahead of 2023 college football season

As college football offenses continue to get better and more creative, it’s becoming more and more difficult to be a defensive coordinator in college football.

There are still several elite ones around the country, though, who have done a nice job of adapting with the times.

PFF recently ranked its top 10 defensive coordinators in college football ahead of the 2023 season. It’s a group that is led by Iowa DC Phil Parker, who led a strong Hawkeyes defense, despite having an abysmal offense.

The Big Ten leads the way with five of the top seven defensive coordinators and four of the top five, according to PFF.

Here’s the full list:

1. Phil Parker, Iowa

Parker has been at Iowa for more than a decade and has established himself as one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. The Hawkeyes were second nationally in total defense and scoring defense in 2022, despite getting almost no help from their offense.

Iowa ranked No. 130 out of 131 FBS teams in total offense and consistently put its defense in rough spots. But time and time again, Parker’s unit stepped up.

2. Jesse Minter, Michigan

Minter did an excellent job in his first season at Michigan as the Wolverines ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense and scoring defense. The former college receiver has also spent time working in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.

3. Jim Knowles, Ohio State

After doing an excellent job for four seasons at Oklahoma State, Knowles took over as the Ohio State defensive coordinator ahead of the 2022 season. The Buckeyes made significant improvements in his first year. In 2021, before Knowles arrived, Ohio State finished No. 59 in total defense, allowing 372.6 yards per game. This last season, OSU jumped up to No. 14 after allowing 321.5 yards per game.

4. Glenn Schumann/Will Muschamp, Georgia

The Bulldogs have had a ton of talent drafted in recent years, but their defenses continue to be elite. Georgia had an excellent year in 2022 and capped it off by holding TCU’s high-powered offense to 7 points in the national championship game. Georgia shutout the Horned Frogs for the final three quarters.

Schumann has been on staff at Georgia since 2016, after starting his career at Alabama. Muschamp hasn’t had much success as a head coach, but he has proven to be an excellent defensive coordinator throughout his career.

5. Manny Diaz, Penn State

The former Miami head coach was a successful defensive coordinator for a long time, before taking over the Hurricanes program as the head coach in 2019. He returned to being a DC last season at Penn State and picked up where he left off, fielding another elite unit.

Penn State made a sizeable jump in Diaz’s first year, going from ranked No. 39 in total defense in 2021 to No. 17 this past season.

6. Matt House, LSU

The former linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs did an excellent job in his first season running the LSU defense.

The Tigers went from being ranked No. 64 in total defense in 2021 to No. 41 last year in House’s first year. Prior to coaching with the Chiefs, House also had a successful run as the defensive coordinator at Kentucky. 

7. Joe Rossi, Minnesota

Rossi was named the interim defensive coordinator during the 2018 season and has held the job ever since.

His Minnesota defense ranked in the top 10 in total defense and top 5 in scoring defense in 2022. The Golden Gophers recorded shutouts against New Mexico State and Rutgers last year.

8. Tony Gibson, NC State 

After previously working as the defensive coordinator at West Virginia, Gibson is entering his fourth season in charge of the NC State defense.

The Wolfpack had arguably the top defense in the ACC last season, ranking in the top 20 in both scoring defense and total defense. Gibson had a fundamentally sound unit that seemed to always be at the right spot.

9. Pete Golding, Ole Miss

Golding spent the previous five seasons as the defensive coordinator at Alabama, including helping the Crimson Tide win the national title in 2020.

He went to Ole Miss this offseason, where he will work alongside Lane Kiffin. Golding’s Alabama defense ranked No. 13 nationally last year in total defense.

10. Bryan Brown, Cincinnati

Brown led an excellent Louisville defense in 2022 and followed former Cardinals head coach Scott Satterfield over to Cincinnati.

Louisville ranked in the top 25 in total defense last season and was No. 11 in scoring defense. The Cardinals also forced 30 turnovers, which tied for No. 3 nationally.