Former Mississippi State, Tennessee, Penn State & Vanderbilt defensive coordinator to lead USF defense
TAMPA, DEC. 6, 2021 – USF third-year head coach Jeff Scott has tabbed Bob Shoop, one of the most respected defensive minds in college football, to serve as the Bulls’ defensive coordinator/safeties coach.
A veteran of highly successful runs as defensive coordinator at Mississippi State (2018-19), Tennessee (2016-17), Penn State (2014-15) and Vanderbilt (2011-13), Shoop brings 33 years of experience to USF from a career that has also seen him serve as head coach at Columbia University (2003-05) and most recently on staffs at Michigan (2020, safeties) and Miami (2021, analyst).
“I am thrilled to welcome Coach Shoop and his family to our USF Family,” Scott said. “His experience and body of work as a defensive coordinator at the highest levels of college football is incredible. Coach Shoop will bring an aggressive style of play with him to Tampa. His defenses have consistently ranked among the best in the country in team sacks and tackles for loss and I am confident that Coach Shoop will lead our defense to great success in the near future.”
Shoop has twice been named Defensive Coordinator of the Year (2014 & 2018), was a 2018 Broyles Award finalist and comes to USF with 17 years of experience as a defensive coordinator, holding the role at seven institutions including FCS stops at Yale (1994-96), Villanova (1997) and William & Mary (2007-10).
Since 2008, he has coached 20 NFL Draft picks representing five different programs (four at MSU, five at Tennessee, five at Penn State, three at Vanderbilt and three at William & Mary) including four first-round selections – Jonathan Abram (Mississippi State, S, 2019), Jeffery Simmons (Tennessee, DE, 2019), Montez Sweat (Mississippi State, DE, 2019) and Derek Barnett (Tennessee, DE, 2017).
Six of the last nine defenses he has led finished among the top 25 in the national total defense rankings, including three in the top 15 and coordinating a Mississippi State defense that ranked No. 1-ranking nationally in total defense (263.1 ypg) in 2018.
Known for his aggressive schemes, Shoop also led the Penn State defense to the No. 2 national ranking in total defense (278.7 ypg) in 2014 and the Nittany Lions led the nation in sacks (3.54 spg) and were sixth in tackles for loss (8.2 tpg) in 2015, leading the Big Ten in both categories. His 2018 Mississippi State defense led the SEC in sacks (3.0 spg) and tackles for loss (7.9 tpg) while ranking 10th and eighth nationally.
A veteran of 12 bowl appearances and three FCS playoff games, in 2016 Shoop coached defensive lineman Derek Barnett who led the SEC in tackles for loss (19) and sacks (13) before going on to be the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Named the 2009 FCS Coordinator of the Year (Football Scoop), Shoop’s William and Mary defense led FCS football in tackles for loss and finished third in sacks.
A native of Oakmont, Pennsylvania and a 1989 graduate of Yale, where he was a wide receiver, Shoop was named a finalist for the 2018 Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach, as his Mississippi State defense was the only unit to finish inside the top 10 national rankings in all four major defensive categories. Shoop was named Football Scoops 2018 Defensive Coordinator of the Year.
MSU led the nation in total defense (263.1 ypg) in 2018, finished second in scoring defense (13.2 ppg) – just behind national champion Clemson (13.1) – second in rushing defense (95.08 ypg), third in third-down defense (26.6%), seventh in passing defense (168.0 ypg) and eighth in red zone defense (88.1%). Arguably the most dominant defensive unit in school history, MSU ranked No. 1 in the rugged SEC in 29 different categories while leading the nation in 10 those and allowed the fewest yards per play in the nation (4.13).
In 2019, MSU shattered a school record for the most defensive players selected in one Draft with four. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was selected by the Titans the 19th overall pick, defensive end Montez Sweat was the 26th pick to Washington and Johnathan Abram followed as the 27th pick to the Raiders, as MSU set a school record for most players selected in the first round and tied Clemson and Alabama for the national lead. Edge rusher Gerri Green was later taken in the sixth round by Colts, as MSU produced the second-most defensive linemen selected in the 2019 Draft (3) behind only Clemson (4). It marked the first time in school history that MSU had multiple defensive linemen selected in the first round. The Bulldogs and Clemson (also in 2019) were the only schools nationally to accomplish that feat over the previous 11 drafts. Simmons, Sweat and Abram each earned All-SEC and All-America honors under Shoop’s watch in 2018.
MSU allowed just 15 touchdowns, the fewest in the country on the year and among the fewest since 2011 – Alabama (12) and LSU (15). Of the 829 plays MSU’s opponent offenses ran during the regular season, only 29 (3.5 percent) gained 25+ yards or resulted in a touchdown, a figure that led the nation.
MSU set the single-season school record for tackles for loss with 103 as Simmons and Sweat led the Bulldogs with 17 and 14, respectively. MSU’s 103 tackles for loss were the second-most in the SEC, behind Alabama’s 107; however, State led the league in tackles for loss per game (7.92.).
The Bulldogs did not allow a rushing touchdown the entire home slate of 2018 and opponents managed only three touchdowns on State in Davis Wade Stadium, spanning 28 quarters. MSU and Fresno State were the only teams that did not allow an opponent to score 30 or more points during the entire 2018 season.
As defensive coordinator at Tennessee (2017), Shoop oversaw a Vols unit that ranked sixth nationally in pass defense (161.7 ypg). In 2016, Shoop directed a Vols defense that was decimated by injuries. Despite the injuries, Barnett earned consensus All-America honors while registering a career-high and SEC-best 13 sacks along with a conference-high 19 tackles for loss. Tennessee ranked sixth in the SEC and tied for 32nd in the country with 24 takeaways. The Vols ranked third in the SEC and 15th in the country with 100 tackles for loss and were third in the SEC and tied for seventh in the nation with 13 fumbles recovered.
After Barnett was selected in the first round of the 2017 Draft, two of Shoop’s Tennessee players heard their names called in the 2018 Draft, including cornerback Rashaan Gaulden (third round – Carolina Panthers) and defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie (sixth round – Kansas City Chiefs).
Shoop transformed Penn State (2014-15) into one of the top defensive units in college football. In 2015, the Nittany Lions ranked 14th in the country in total defense (324.5), 8th in passing defense, sixth in tackles for loss and tied for the most sacks per game (3.54) in the nation.
Four Penn State players developed by Shoop were selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, including second-round defensive tackle pick Austin Johnson (Tennessee Titans), defensive ends Carl Nassib (Cleveland Browns) and Anthony Zettel (Detroit Lions) and safety Jordan Lucas (Miami Dolphins).
In his first season overseeing the Nittany Lions defense in 2014, the unit ranked second in FBS total defense (278.7) and seventh in scoring defense. That season, Shoop helped senior safety Adrian Amos grab three interceptions and gain honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades and safety Marcus Allen earn Freshman All-America and Big Ten All-Freshman honors.
For his efforts in his Penn State debut, 247Sports.com recognized Shoop as its 2014 National Defensive Coordinator of the Year. Following the season, Amos was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears.
From 2011-13, Shoop served as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Vanderbilt where he directed the Commodores to top 25 finishes in total defense in each of his three seasons. Vanderbilt forced 30 turnovers in 2013, which tied for 10th nationally, including 24 over the final eight games. Shoop’s 2012 unit held opponents to 18.8 points per game, the lowest by a Vanderbilt team since 1997, and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in pass defense (14th, 191.8 avg.), scoring defense (15th, 18.8 avg.) and total defense (19th, 339.9 avg.).
Shoop began his coaching career at his alma mater, Yale, in 1989 as a graduate assistant. He has also spent time as an assistant coach at William & Mary (2007-10), Massachusetts (2006), Boston College (1999-2002), Army (1998), Villanova (1997), Yale (1989, 1994-96), Northeastern (1991-93) and Virginia (1990). From 2003-05, he served as head coach at Columbia.
Shoop played wide receiver at Yale where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics. He was recognized with Yale Football’s prestigious Robert Gardner Anderson Memorial Award for team spirit, dedication and leadership. He also earned four letters in baseball.
Shoop was a three-sport standout at Riverview High School and is a member of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Maura, have two sons, Tyler and Jay. His brother, John, is a former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at both the professional and collegiate levels.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and celebrated its 25th season (22nd at the FBS level) in 2021. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 15 All-America selections and 31 first-team all-conference selections, and have seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
– #GoBulls –
