OU officially hires Nate Dreiling, Wes Goodwin to defensive staff
OU has officially hired Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin to its defensive staff, the school announced on Saturday. Dreiling will serve as the inside linebackers coach, while Goodwin will be a defensive analyst.
Coach Brent Venables will call the defense in 2025.
“I have reflected on all facets of our program over the past several weeks,” said Venables in a statement. “Since I was hired as head coach, we have carefully assembled the defensive personnel and scheme that is suited to compete at the highest level, and we’ve built a deep and talented roster ready for the moment. I have high expectations for our program and will do everything in my power to achieve our goals for our players. To that end, I will take over defensive play-calling responsibilities for the 2025 season.”
Dreiling replaces former co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Zac Alley, who left for West Virginia on Dec. 28. He was considered a top target by coach Brent Venables, having risen quickly through the coaching ranks. In 2024, he served as the interim head coach at Utah State before being hired as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas State on Jan. 2. At 34 years old, Dreiling has coached at his alma mater Pitt State, Kansas, Oregon, Southeast Missouri State, New Mexico State and Utah State.
Goodwin joins Oklahoma’s staff after spending the last three seasons as Clemson’s defensive coordinator. He replaced Venables in 2022, following his departure to OU. Goodwin worked closely with Venables at Clemson, serving as a defensive assistant for 13 seasons. He was let go by the Tigers following the 2024 season.
Here’s a closer look at OU’s newest coaches and what Venables had to say about the hires.
“Adding Nate and Wes to our team, with their extensive and diverse experience, simply adds to my expectations and excitement for our defensive unit,” Venables said. “I’m energized by the prospect of getting back into play-calling and for the continued momentum I see us gaining with the strategic moves we’re making on both sides of the ball.”
Nate Dreiling, inside linebackers
2025-present: Inside linebackers, Oklahoma
2024: Interim head coach/defensive coordinator/DEs, Utah State
2022-23: Defensive coordinator, New Mexico State
2021: Defensive run game coordinator/linebackers, Southeast Missouri State
2020: Defensive analyst, Oregon
2018-19: Defensive coordinator, Pittsburg State
2017: Safeties, Pittsburg State
2015-16: Graduate assistant, Kansas
Wes Goodwin, defensive analyst
2025-present: Defensive analyst, Oklahoma
2022-24: Defensive coordinator/linebackers, Clemson
2018-21: Senior defensive assistant, Clemson
2015-17: Assistant to the HC, Arizona Cardinals
2012-14: Defensive analyst, Clemson
2009-11: Graduate assistant, Clemson
2005-08: Student assistant, Mississippi State
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