University of Houston Athletics
Todd Orlando Named Houston Defensive Coordinator
1/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON - Houston Football head coach Tom Herman named Todd Orlando his defensive coordinator Monday evening. Orlando comes to Houston from Utah State where he served two seasons as defensive coordinator, leading a defense that ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense in 2014 (19.7 points per game) and seventh nationally in 2013 (17.1 points per game).
His attacking defense was fourth nationally with 49 sacks on the year and second nationally with 114 tackles for loss as Utah State advanced to back-to-to-back bowl games during Orlando's stay in Logan, Utah. In his two-year span with USU, Orlando's defense ranked eighth nationally with 59 turnovers, ranking 10th nationally in 2014 with 30 turnovers including 19 interceptions, a number that ranked eighth-best nationally.
"When you look at the success Utah State has had defensively over the last two seasons, we are excited to add Todd Orlando as our defensive coordinator," said Herman. "His defensive style is both aggressive, as evident by the sacks and tackles for loss number, and opportunistic, ranking among the nation's best in turnovers."
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Orlando joins Craig Naivar (assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach), Jason Washington (special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach), Drew Mehringer (wide receivers coach) and Corby Meekins (tight ends coach) who were all named to the UH staff earlier Monday.
Orlando's 2014 defense ranked 17th nationally and second in the Mountain West with a pass efficiency defense of 111.42 while its rushing defense led the league with an average of 130.7 yards per game. His total defense was second in the league with 356.1 yards per game, bolstered by a defensive group that led the conference with four First Team All-MWC selections, representing all three levels of the defense - defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs.
The balance of the defense was represented well with Frankie Sutera third nationally in interceptions with seven and Zach Vigil 11th nationally with 19.5 tackles for loss.
During his first season at Utah State, Orlando's Aggie defense ranked first in the Mountain West and seventh in the nation in scoring allowing just 17.1 points per game, the second-fewest allowed by an Aggie defense since 1971. USU also ranked first in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation in rushing defense (106.7 ypg), its fewest allowed since 1968, first in the Mountain West and 12th in the nation in total defense (330.9 ypg), and first in the Mountain West and 15th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (113.2).
Utah State's 2013 defense also ranked sixth in the nation in the red zone, allowing opponents to score just 68.9 percent of the time, including just 19 touchdowns, to rank second nationally. Furthermore, USU's defense ranked seventh in the nation in forcing three-and-outs with 5.6 per game, while its 7.6 tackles per loss per game ranked 10th nationally. USU's defense also ranked 11th nationally in third-down conversions at 32.6 percent.
Utah State's defense finished the 2013 season holding five of its final seven opponents to 14 or fewer points and did not give up more than 24 points in its last seven games, while its 14 points allowed to No. 24 Northern Illinois in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl was a USU bowl game record. USU also played in back-to-back-to-back bowl games for the first time in school history and won just its third bowl game ever in 2013.
Utah State was also the only team in the nation not to allow a touchdown run of 10 or more yards in 2013, and allowed just two 100-yard rushers, while limiting its opponents to just 13 points following 16 turnovers.
Prior to Utah State, Orlando spent two years as the defensive coordinator at Florida International (2011-12), helping the Panthers reach the 2011 Beef `O' Brady's Bowl. During his two years at FIU, Orlando mentored five players who earned various all-Sun Belt Conference honors a total of seven times, including safety Jonathan Cyprien and defensive lineman Tourek Williams who both earned first-team all-league honors. Cyprien was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 33rd pick of the 2013 NFL Draft.
During his first year at Florida International in 2011, the Panthers' defense ranked 13th nationally in pass efficiency defense (111.98), 14th in scoring defense (19.46 ppg), tied for 15th in sacks (2.69 pg), 22nd in rushing defense (118.08 ypg) and 30th in total defense (344.69 ypg). In 2012, FIU ranked 36th nationally in rushing defense (140.83 ypg).
Orlando went to Florida International after a 12-year stint at Connecticut, including six seasons (2005-10) as the defensive coordinator. In 2010, Orlando's defense helped the Huskies capture the Big East Championship and play in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
In his first year as defensive coordinator at Connecticut in 2006, the Huskies led the Big East Conference in total defense (297.1 ypg), its fewest since 1979. In 2007, Connecticut won the Big East Championship behind the nation's 10th-ranked passing efficiency defense and the 14th best scoring defense (19.0 ppg).
Orlando's work with middle linebacker Danny Lansanah in 2007 helped earn the senior a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers, while weakside linebacker Lawrence Wilson was named a second-team Freshman All-American. Orlando also mentored linebacker Alfred Fincher who was chosen in the third round by the New Orleans Saints in 2005, becoming the first Husky drafted in 11 years.
Prior to Connecticut, Orlando spent three seasons as the inside linebackers coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Orlando began his coaching career holding the position of defensive coordinator at Central Catholic High School (1994) and Fox Chapel Area High School (1995) in Pennsylvania.
Orlando was a three-year letterwinner at inside linebacker at Wisconsin and a member of the 1994 Big Ten Championship team that defeated UCLA in the Badgers' first Rose Bowl appearance since 1963.
Orlando, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., earned his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Wisconsin in 1994. He is married to the former Amy Gilmore and the couple has two daughters, Taylor and Addison.
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