fau lane kiffin

Kiffin Makes DC Change

[the_ad_group id=”632″]
BOCA RATON – Tony Peroraro may have still been FAU’s defensive coordinator last week, but he no longer holds the position.

Lane Kiffin has hired former Charlotte and Oklahoma St. defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer to take over the Owls’ defense.

Kiffin shaprly contradicted published last week’s reports that he was making a change at defensive coordinator, telling OwlAccess.com that “Nothing has changed.”

OwlAccess.com has independently confirmed FootballScoop.com‘s Friday afternoon report that Spencer is now the Owls’ defensive coordinator.

Charlotte ranked No. 61 nationally in scoring defense, allowing 26.6 points per game. The 337.2 yards per game surrendered by the 49ers ranked No. 26 nationally and fourth in Conference USA. Charlotte fired head coach Brad Lambert with one game remaining in the 2018 season.

In that final game, the 49ers defeated FAU 27-24, eliminating FAU’s hopes of a bowl bid.

Spencer spent only once season at Charlotte. Prior to that he’d spent the past decade at Oklahoma St., the final five years as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.

He also coached linebackers and the defensive line at Oklahoma St. Pecoraro coached FAU’s linebackers last season in addition to his defensive coordinator duties.

Spencer also served as an assistant at Duke and Georgia Tech, and was the head coach at West Georgia from 1998-2000.

Pecoraro came to FAU from Southern Miss during the past offseason. In March he signed a three-year contract with FAU that paid $350,000 per year. FAU owes him $350,000 for the coming year, provided Pecoraro doesn’t take another job.

Most, including Kiffin, expected the defense, which returned 10 starters, to be the strength of the Owls. The Owls, however, struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks and to force turnovers. They currently rank No. 90 in total defense, allowing 427.4 yards per game and the 31.8 points they allowed ranks No. 94.

The defense performed significantly better during Conference USA play, giving the Owls a chance to win every C-USA game.

FAU, however, finished the season with a 5-7 record, failing to achieve bowl eligibility.



FAUOwlAccess.com