NC State announces D.J. Eliot as DC, makes other defensive staff changes
NC State coach Dave Doeren officially named D.J. Eliot the Wolfpack’s next defensive coordinator on Tuesday morning.
Eliot, a well-traveled assistant, replaced longtime defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, who departed the Pack to become Marshall’s head coach earlier this month.
“D.J. is a great addition to our staff,” Doeren said in a statement. “He has worked with some of the greatest minds in college football, mostly recently with Dave Aranda at Baylor. He brings a wide variety of experience schematically and as a former NFL coach, he knows what it takes to develop players so they can make it to the next level.”
Eliot has 27 years of experience, most recently as a senior analyst at Baylor during the 2024 season. In 2023, he was the Philadelphia Eagles’ linebackers coach. Prior to that, Eliot served as the defensive coordinator at Kentucky, Colorado, Kansas and Temple.
“I am excited to work at a program that has enjoyed consistent success and under a proven head coach like Dave Doeren,” Eliot said. “I remember what a tough place to play Carter-Finley Stadium was as an opponent and can’t wait to be a part of that atmosphere.”
At Temple, his most-recent play-calling stop, Eliot helped the Owls to 3.2 sacks per game (eighth in NCAA), 7.3 tackles for a loss (ninth) and allowed just 198.6 passing yards per outing (24th). Temple posted 38 total sacks, more than double the previous year’s total.
Eliot, who runs a 3-4 defense, is known as a coordinator that has disruptive fronts as his units have turned in elite sack totals year in and year out. That could help elevate NC State’s unit, which turned in 24 total sacks this past season in Gibson’s 3-3-5 scheme.
While he has spent time all over the country, Eliot was key in Florida State’s defense as the team’s defensive ends coach under Jimbo Fisher from 2010-12. He helped the Seminoles rank second nationally in total defense (254.1) and sixth in scoring defense (14.7). Florida State led the nation in sacks (48) in his first season there, while it led the country in rushing yards allowed per attempt at 2.35.
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In addition to Eliot’s official hiring, Doeren also announced safeties coach Joe DeForest’s retirement after five seasons.
“I want to thank Coach Doeren for allowing me to finish my career at NC State, which was my plan when I came here,” DeForest said. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and watching Wolfpack football do great things.”
Interim defensive coordinator Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, meanwhile, was elevated to co-defensive coordinator for the 2025 season. He will also coach both safeties and nickels, adding the former to his workload moving forward. Doeren also promoted graduate assistant Elisha Shaw to a full-time role, where he will still assist with the defensive line.
Shaw, who joined the program before this past season, arrived in Raleigh after he served as a graduate assistant at Georgia State. Before his coaching career began, Shaw was one of the nation’s top defensive line prospects out of high school before an injury ended his football playing career. He attended Alabama, where he worked with the football staff as a student assistant.
“Coach Shaw has brought a wealth of passion and enthusiasm to our program and has done a great job with our d-line,” Doeren said. “He has a bright future as a coach.”
NC State will open the 2025 season against East Carolina on Aug. 30, 2025 inside Carter-Finley Stadium.
