Two ACC Programs Make Coaching Staff Moves

A couple of Clemson’s ACC foes have made changes to their coaching staffs for next season.

Both NC State and Miami made moves with coordinator positions this week.

On Tuesday, NC State announced D.J. Eliot is its new defensive coordinator. Eliot replaces Tony Gibson, who was hired as Marshall’s head coach. Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay has been promoted to co-defensive coordinator.

“D.J. is a great addition to our staff,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said in a statement. “He has worked with some of the greatest minds in college football, mostly recently with Dave Aranda at Baylor. He brings a wide variety of experience schematically and as a former NFL coach, he knows what it takes to develop players so they can make it to the next level.”

The Wolfpack also made a change at offensive coordinator this week. NC State fired OC Robert Anae and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper.

“Kurt has done a great job for us and knows what we need to do to take the next step forward as a program,” Doeren said. “He has a great relationship with our players, a great knowledge of college football and the ACC, and I’m looking forward to seeing him as a play caller.”

Meanwhile, Miami fired defensive coordinator Lane Guidry on Tuesday after its defensive struggles down the stretch of this season.

“In a continuous effort to always improve all aspects of our program, I have decided to make a change on defense,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement. “We will move forward and make decisions that provide our players, staff and program the best opportunity to win and develop at the highest level.”

Miami finished 10-3 this season after losing three of its final four games. The Hurricanes blew a 10-point third-quarter lead in their 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

NC State finished 6-7 this season and suffered a 26-21 loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl.