Texas Tech Names David Gibbs Defensive Coordinator

Texas Tech and head coach Kliff Kingsbury have named David Gibbs as the new defensive coordinator for Texas Tech. Gibbs was the defensive coordinator at Houston in 2013 and 2014.  Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury is not only excited to announced Gibbs, but also Zac Spavital as part of Texas Tech's staff:

"I am extremely excited to have Coach Gibbs and Coach Spavital join our staff," Kingsbury said. "What they were able to accomplish in their short time at the University of Houston is incredible. Coach Gibbs developed UH into a Top-20 defense that lead the country in turnovers over a two-year span. With stops in both College Football and the NFL, Coach Gibbs will bring experience and ingenuity to our defensive unit."

Gibbs is looking forward to working with Kingsbury and the rest of Texas Tech's staff:

"I couldn't be more excited about joining Coach Kingsbury and the rest of our coaching staff," Gibbs said. "I have followed Kliff's career and believe special things are happening in Lubbock. There are several talented, young defensive players that will contribute for years to come. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to getting started soon."

Gibbs has had a rambler sort of career, never staying in one place for more than two or three years. Gibbs played defensive back for Colorado, the same alma mater as special teams coach Darrin Chiaverini (they didn't cross paths, Gibbs is about 9 years older that Chiaverini). After playing, Gibbs almost immediately went into coaching and spent time at Kansas, Minnesota and then dipped his toe into the NFL ranks, starting as the safeties coach, to then secondary to then defensive backs from 2001 through 2004. A year at Auburn, and then back to the NFL where he was the defensive backs coach at Kansas City, from 2006 through 2008, and the Houston Texans from 2009 through 2010. Then, of all things, Gibbs spent a year on hiatus, the 2011 season, he came back to coach in the UFL and the Virginia Destroyers before being named the defensive coordinator at Houston.

Gibbs helped lead a resurgent Houston team and doing very well in traditional metrics. For example, Houston was 10th in the nation in scoring defense allowing just 19.4 points a game allowed and 20th in yards allowed per game at 334.6. But with more advanced metrics, Houston struggled, ranking 81st in Football Outsider's S&P rankings. For those of you that are somewhat figuring out advanced metrics, it is essentially the non-garbage play-by-play data of every game. There's a good definition at the link. Some folks very much buy into this and others . . . not so much, relying the more traditional stats.

In looking at Gibbs' Houston bio, you can tell that the points per game isn't a mirage as the Houston defense only allowed 21.8 points a game and prior to that allowed 36 points a game. Houston has also been fantastic at takeaways. Houston took the ball away 30 times last year, which was tied for 7th in the nation and was 1st in the nation in 2013, taking the ball away 43 times.

From what I can tell, Houston ran a 4-3 defense and obviously and Gibbs strength is coaching the secondary. It will be interesting to see how that plays out for the coaching staff as Texas Tech has Trey Haverty and Kevin Curtis at the safety and cornerbacks coaches. Gibbs will have a position to fill on the defense as there is a defensive line spot open. The key for Texas Tech and Gibbs is consistency. Building something that sticks for a while.

Also as part of the release is that Kingsbury announced that running backs coach Mike Jinks was named associate head coach.  Congrats to Jinks on the promotion!