 DeRuyter at 2016 Mountain West Media Days | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1963-01-03)January 3, 1963 (age 62) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1982–1984 | Air Force |
| Position | Outside linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1989–1992 | Air Force (Assistant) |
| 1995–1998 | Ohio (DC/DB) |
| 1999–2000 | Navy (DC) |
| 2001 | Navy (DB) |
| 2002–2004 | Ohio (DC/DB) |
| 2005–2006 | Nevada (co-DC/S) |
| 2007 | Air Force (DC/S) |
| 2008–2009 | Air Force (AHC/DC/S) |
| 2010–2011 | Texas A&M (AHC/DC) |
| 2011 | Texas A&M (interim HC) |
| 2012–2016 | Fresno State |
| 2017 | California (DC/ILB) |
| 2018–2019 | California (DC/OLB) |
| 2020 | California (AHC/co-DC/OLB) |
| 2021 | Oregon (DC/OLB) |
| 2022–2024 | Texas Tech (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 31–30 |
| Bowls | 1–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2Mountain West (2012–2013) 2Mountain West West Division (2013–2014) | |
Timothy James DeRuyter (/dəˈruːtər/də-ROO-tər; born January 3, 1963) is an Americanfootball coach and former player who is the formerdefensive coordinator atTexas Tech University. He previously served in the same capacity at theUniversity of Oregon in 2021 and prior to that he was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at theUniversity of California, Berkeley from 2017 to 2020 and head coach atCalifornia State University, Fresno from 2012 to 2016.[1]
A native ofLong Beach, California, DeRuyter attendedSt. John Bosco High School inBellflower and graduated in 1981. He playedcollege football atAir Force from 1982 to 1984. He lettered atoutside linebacker and was part of threebowl game victories. He graduated from theUnited States Air Force Academy in 1985.[2] His family is ofDutch descent.
DeRuyter has a history of turning college football defenses around. Before his second arrival atOhio in 2002, the Bobcats ranked 99th nationally; upon his departure toNevada, the Bobcats ranked 22nd. At Nevada, the Wolfpack improved from 78th to 48th under his tutelage.[2] He also spent time at Navy.
As thedefensive coordinator at Air Force from 2007 to 2009, DeRuyter replaced a bend-but-don't-break scheme with an aggressive3–4 defense. In 2006, prior to his arrival, the Falcons ranked 78th in scoring defense and 78th in total defense. In 2009, the Falcons finished 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. In the2009 Armed Forces Bowl 47-20 win againstHouston, the Falcons limited the nation's second-ranked passing offense to a season-low of 222 passing yards. They also recorded six interceptions.[3][4]
DeRuyter became Texas A&M's defensive coordinator in 2010. The Aggies ranked 104th in scoring defense in 2009, under a4–3 defense. In 2010, under his 3–4 defense, they improved to 21st in scoring defense. After Texas A&M fired head coachMike Sherman in 2011, DeRuyter became the interim head coach for theMeineke Car Care Bowl, leading the Aggies to a 33–22 victory overNorthwestern.[5][6][7]
DeRuyter became the head coach of theFresno State Bulldogs beginning the 2012 season. During the 2012 season, the Bulldogs team included standoutsDerek Carr,Phillip Thomas, andDavante Adams. The Bulldogs wereMountain West conference champions after recording 7–1 conference records during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. During the 2014 season, they were conference division champions after posting a 5–3 conference record. His 2015 and 2016 teams did not see the same success, as both teams posted losing records. He was fired by Fresno State on October 23, 2016, after starting the season 1–7 and 4–16 since playing in the Mountain West championship game in 2014.[1] During his tenure, the Bulldogs were invited to three bowl games, but lost all three by at least 20 points each.[8]
DeRuyter's Fresno State tenure is most remembered for his unwillingness to offer a scholarship toJosh Allen, who grew up a lifelong Bulldogs fan.[9] Allen would go on to have a prolific college career at theUniversity of Wyoming and become the seventh overall pick in the2018 NFL draft.
On January 23, 2017, DeRuyter was hired to be defensive coordinator at Cal.[10] Prior to his arrival, Cal's defense ranked 127th in scoring defense and 125th in total defense in 2016. The defense improved over his tenure; over the 2017–2020 seasons, Cal's scoring defense ranked 79th, 22nd, 33rd, and 48th, respectively. The total defense ranked 95th, 15th, 65th, and 38th.[11] The 2019 Cal defense featured All-AmericanEvan Weaver, who led the nation in tackles.[8] During his tenure at Cal, DeRuyter was the primary defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2019, but shared the responsibility withPeter Sirmon in 2020.[12] For their coaching during the 2019 season, DeRuyter and Sirmon were named Linebackers Coaches of the Year by FootballScoop.[13]
On January 22, 2021, DeRuyter was hired to be the defensive coordinator at Oregon.[12]
On December 8, 2021, DeRuyter was hired to be the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach atTexas Tech University under head coachJoey McGuire. Texas Tech fired DeRuyter following the2024 season after the team finished the regular season ranked 125th in total defense (out of 134FBS teams) and 133rd against the pass.[14]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M Aggies(Big 12 Conference)(2011) | |||||||||
| 2011 | Texas A&M | 1–0[n 1] | WMeineke Car Care | ||||||
| Texas A&M: | 1–0 | ||||||||
| Fresno State Bulldogs(Mountain West Conference)(2012–2016) | |||||||||
| 2012 | Fresno State | 9–4 | 7–1 | T–1st | LHawaii | ||||
| 2013 | Fresno State | 11–2 | 7–1 | 1st(West) | LLas Vegas | ||||
| 2014 | Fresno State | 6–8 | 5–3 | T–1st(West) | LHawaii | ||||
| 2015 | Fresno State | 3–9 | 2–6 | T–4th(West) | |||||
| 2016 | Fresno State | 1–7[n 2] | 0–4[n 2] | (West)[n 2] | |||||
| Fresno State: | 30–30 | 21–15 | |||||||
| Total: | 31–30 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||