Fresno State’s next defensive coordinator will come from the team that just beat the Bulldogs in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Head Coach Matt Entz announced that Nick Benedetto will join the program as defensive coordinator.
The big picture: Benedetto comes to Fresno State from Northern Illinois and helped the Huskies beat the Bulldogs 28-20 last week.
- Along with serving as defensive coordinator, Benedetto will also coach the safeties.
Zoom in: Benedetto coached the Northern Illinois defense for the past three seasons leading the Huskies to have one of the top defenses in the nation by all major metrics.
- Before Northern Illinois, Benedetto was the defensive coordinator at Samford University for two seasons.
- He also was the defensive coordinator at Sioux Falls from 2017 to 2019, several years after former Fresno State Head Coach Kalen DeBoer was at the university.
By the numbers: Benedetto led the 15th best defense in the country this past season, with the Huskies only giving up 18.5 points per game.
- Northern Illinois ranked fifth in the country in total defense, allowing just 284.6 yards per game.
- The Huskies were 17th in the nation at rush defense, giving up 112.15 yards on the ground per game. They ranked as the sixth best team in the country against the pass, allowing 172.5 yards per game.
- Northern Illinois only gave up an average of 16.4 first downs per game – the sixth best team in the country.
- The Huskies were also the second best defense on third down, holding opponents to a 26.67% conversion rate.
