NC State reportedly hiring D.J. Eliot as defensive coordinator

NC State is reportedly headed toward a permanent defensive coordinator hire. The Wolfpack is expected to hire former Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach D.J. Eliot to fill the lone vacant assistant coach position on the staff, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday night.

Following Tony Gibson’s departure to Marshall, NC State opened up a search for its next defensive coordinator that also included interim Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay. The Pack wrapped up the search just two days after the bowl game.

Eliot has also worked as the defensive coordinator at Kentucky (2013-2016), Colorado (2017-18) and Kansas (2019-20).

He has been coaching for 25 years, working almost entirely at the collegiate level before taking his first NFL job with the Eagles in 2023. He was not a part of this year’s staff. The Stillwater, Okla., native attended Wyoming before starting his coaching career with the Cowboys.

Before leaving for the professional ranks, Eliot was Temple’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach. He helped coach the Owls into a squad that ranked No. 9 nationally with 3.2 sacks per game and No. 10 in tackles for loss at 7.3 per game.

During his time with the Jayhawks, he coached seven athletes to postseason accolades over two seasons. Eliot ran a 3-4 defense at Temple. He also coached in various roles with Miami and Florida State.

He spent three seasons with the Seminoles. FSU finished the 2010 season tied for the top mark in the nation with 48 sacks. On the recruiting trail, he was the primary recruiter for Mario Edwards, the No. 1 recruit in the country, and Tank Carradine, the top-ranked junior college recruit nationally.