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Oklahoma State Football

Breaking: Oklahoma State Hires Bryan Nardo as Defensive Coordinator

January 24, 2023
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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State has found its new defensive coordinator less than a month into the search. Mike Gundy has hired Bryan Nardo, Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach at Gannon University.

With the announcement of Nardo, Joe Bob Clements has been elevated to Co-Defensive Coordinator and Tim Duffie has been promoted to Defensive Passing Game Coordinator.

"I'm excited about the addition of the Bryan Nardo as our defensive coordinator," coach Mike Gundy said. "He's a young energetic, bright football coach who brings 10 years of coordinating experience with him. He's been successful and his innovative system has helped win games everywhere he's been.

"Additionally, I have elevated Joe Bob Clements to Co-Defensive Coordinator and Tim Duffie to Defensive Passing Game Coordinator. They've had a long-term commitment to Oklahoma State and have been a large part of the success of our program."

Nardo was hired by Gannon in February 2022 after spending two seasons as the linebackers coach at Youngstown State and nine years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Emporia State.

"I cannot thank Coach Gundy and the rest of the staff enough for their openness throughout this entire process and for trusting me with this responsibility," Bryan Nardo said in the release from OSU. "I am extremely excited to join the rich tradition of Oklahoma State football. I can't wait to get to work and continue to build upon all of the great things that have been done here throughout history. I spent eight years recruiting the state of Oklahoma, seeing first hand the amount of pride people have in this university's athletic programs. There's no better place to be able to represent.

"I am also thankful for Coach Erik Raeburn and Lisa Goddard McGuirk for the opportunities they presented me with at Gannon. Their trust and belief is something I don't feel like I will ever be able to truly repay. Gannon is a special place and I loved every day working there. This is an exciting time for my family. Emma, Dominick, Elijah and I are excited to get to Stillwater and begin building relationships within the community."

This past season, Nardo’s Golden Knights defense held opponents to 21.9 points, 103.5 rushing yards and just 183.9 passing yards per game in 2022. Opponents averaged 4.4 yards per play and 287.4 yards per game. They converted on 36.9% (64-of-173) on 3rd down and 50% on 4th down (12-of-24). Nardo’s defense also forced 18 fumbles, recovered seven of them, recorded 32 sacks for a loss of 194 yards, 76 tackles for loss and nine interceptions.

Prior to his move to Youngstown State, Nardo was named to the AFCA’s 35 Under 35 list in 2019, which is a list of the top 35 college football coaches under the age of 35.

In his final season at Emporia State, 2019, Nardo’s defense held opponents to 21.6 points and 340.4 yards per game, 124.3 on the ground and 216.1 through the air. His defense also recorded 71 tackles for loss, 28 sacks, nine forced and recovered fumbles apiece, and 10 interceptions.

During his time at Emporia State, his defenses forced 209 takeaways, recorded more than 25 a season from 2012-16. He also produced two All-American linebackers during that time, Ben Carlson (2012) and Jace McDown (2019), and turned out six different 100+ tackle linebackers, including all three starting linebacker in 2019 recording 100+ tackles, the first time that’s happened in Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association history.

Prior to his time at Emporia, Nardo coached at Missouri S&T and was named the Great Lakes Football Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011.

Originally out of Shadyside, Ohio, Nardo served as a student coach at Ohio University from 2004-08, then served as a graduate assistant for Ohio from 2008-10, coaching nickel backs and outside backers.

Discussion from...

Breaking: Oklahoma State Hires Bryan Nardo as Defensive Coordinator

19,048 Views | 72 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by Joe Khatib
pokeacola
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Mike Murdoch (D version) 2.0
Darth Vader
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I thought I had heard of every school in America until now: Gannon University and Missouri S&T.
pokeacola
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YURCICH not murdoch....spell check ... Blah
pokeacola
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I imagine Gundy has found another Gem
Csquaredosu66
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ummm?
DontTreadOnPete
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Well he's probably not too expensive…so we got that going for us at least
Crazed_Stallion
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LMFAO absolute pathetic. This guy cant even spell Power 5 and Gundy hires him as the DC. Fire Gundy
TXPokeEnding
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Nardo: Honey, I've offered a new job.

Wife: Where?

Nardo: Stillwater...

Wife: Minnesota?

Nardo: Oklahoma.

Wife: Oh...
(Pause)

Wife: Are there reasons to do this? Really?

Nardo: 1.8 million reasons.

Wife: I'll get the moving company on the phone.
Joe Khatib
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Csquaredosu66 said:

ummm?
Sounds like, as was pointed out above, Yurcich 2.0!
Joe Khatib
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Crazed_Stallion said:

LMFAO absolute pathetic. This guy cant even spell Power 5 and Gundy hires him as the DC. Fire Gundy
Yeah just terrible, let's see Yurcich went from Shippensberg to Oklahoma State to Ohio State to Texas to the current Rose Bowl champs Penn State! By the way why isn't old Bent Vegetables making any defensive changes at Zero U, they were even worse than OSU on defense and finished 6 - 7!!!!
Csquaredosu66
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Joe Khatib said:

Csquaredosu66 said:

ummm?
Sounds like, as was pointed out above, Yurcich 2.0!
Gundy is MORE proven at hiring good coaches than he is not. I'll give him a chance.
He obviously teaches Sacks and Takeaways.
This also allowed for us to retain and promote Joe Bob and Ruffie. They are good coaches and deserving.
Joe Khatib
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Csquaredosu66 said:

Joe Khatib said:

Csquaredosu66 said:

ummm?
Sounds like, as was pointed out above, Yurcich 2.0!
Gundy is MORE proven at hiring good coaches than he is not. I'll give him a chance.
He obviously teaches Sacks and Takeaways.
This also allowed for us to retain and promote Joe Bob and Ruffie. They are good coaches and deserving.
Yup, we will see what happens this next season!!! Giving Joe Bob and Duff the extra titles means you can get them more money $$$$$ via pay raises!!!
pokeacola
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Out of the abundance (contents) of the heart, the mouth speaks. So says scripture. In other words, What is in ones heart is made evident by what one speaks. Based on what the poster named crazed stallion speaks, I can only imagine a heart that is wounded, toxic and malicious. Sad, really.
Joe Khatib
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pokeacola said:

Out of the abundance (contents) of the heart, the mouth speaks. So says scripture. In other words, What is in ones heart is made evident by what one speaks. Based on what the poster named crazed stallion speaks, I can only imagine a heart that is wounded, toxic and malicious. Sad, really.
Nah it just bleeds ZERO U!
Crazed_Stallion
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At least Yurcich could score. This guys last year gave up 39ppg in checks notes....Division 2 football!!!!
texastornado
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I don't have as much of an issue here. I think there is a lot of upside here as we are getting a young and energetic coach. I'm hoping there are new ideas and he should be able to relate to the players. Keep Clements and Duffie is huge. Lets give him a chance and see what happens. Always quick to jump Gundy and say awful hire.
Crazed_Stallion
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WE WILL GIVE UP 40+ A GAME. You have the resources and get someone that plays UCO.. its just absurd.
pokeacola
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What's wrong with you CZ? Lighten up, be nice, show some intellectual maturity.
GumbyFromPokeyLand
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Crazed_Stallion said:

LMFAO absolute pathetic. This guy cant even spell Power 5 and Gundy hires him as the DC. Fire Gundy


I told Joe the loser crazy Zero Horse would reappear when Gundy named a DC.
CProc7
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Does it really matter? We will probably be keeping the same plan that Knowles put in and run the 3-3-5. Maybe he can communicate with the young crowd better than the other guys. I'm not excited by any means but Gundy must see something. Another good trait is he probably won't leave after 1 season.
oldpoke75
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Gannon? Is that even D1?
Vonrocky
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Clement, Duffie and a newbie? Looks like Gundy is going to experiment with a "Defense by Committee" again much like the Notre Dame game last year.
Crazed_Stallion
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Nope, D2..
Orangeheart72
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Sounds like a good young hire again who has a take on back of the defense. Good for him and likely good for Joe Bob Clements too. Wish they had a couple more good D tackles for this season to up their line strength. For recruiting purposes, probably good to have a bit of youth join our program.....coaches are all getting to be on the older side (but young to me!)
SWCowboyD
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I just watched a replay of Emporia State game versus UCO in 2020. Looks like Nardo runs a 3-3-5 defensive scheme. I wonder if that is next year's defensive scheme? Robert mentioned how Gundy liked the 3-3-5 in his article about the search for a new coordinator.
Crazed_Stallion
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probably, Gundy loves that system.
RowdyRawhide
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Totally bizarre!
eecowboy
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Considering RA wrote an excellent article on 1/19 detailing several DC candidates, and/or the coaching tree lineage for a few names who might've been relatively unknown to the average fan … this coach truly must be a hidden gem in the coaching ranks to beat out the likes of them.

Go Cowboys!

TUSKAPOKE
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O ye of little faith......Do you not have the faith of a mustard seed?......Coach Nardo....Welcome to OSU and Stillwater. It is a great place to raise a family. Come here and prove MG correct in your hiring. GO POKES!!!
oldpoke75
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I think Gundy hires based on pedigree (or lack of). No body can have a bigger name than him.
LS1Z28
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Joe Khatib said:

Crazed_Stallion said:

LMFAO absolute pathetic. This guy cant even spell Power 5 and Gundy hires him as the DC. Fire Gundy
Yeah just terrible, let's see Yurcich went from Shippensberg to Oklahoma State to Ohio State to Texas to the current Rose Bowl champs Penn State! By the way why isn't old Bent Vegetables making any defensive changes at Zero U, they were even worse than OSU on defense and finished 6 - 7!!!!
Yurcich was dominant at the D2 level. His offense averaged 47 PPG and 530 YPG his final season there. He had the best D2 offense in the country.

Darbo's defense last year at Gannon ranked 53rd in the country in scoring. He's only been mildly successful at that level.

This may be the most underwhelming hire in the history of our football program. I flat out don't get it. Is this really the very best candidate available, or is Coach Gundy just hiring someone that won't leave anytime soon?
Crazed_Stallion
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BINGO!
RowdyRawhide
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Did Joe Castiglione make this hire?
rcfb
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I'm indifferent. I am also curious why he was not hired out of Younstown State after 2 years and went to Gannon. This feels like high risk high reward hire. His stats are kind of meh at Gannon. He would probably need some hand holding for a year or two in P5 level, hence the Co DC positions. This hire just screams, OSU is poor. I'm intrigued none the less.
OT
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Nardo: Sorry honey, it's not Emporia KS, but next best thing.

Hope he's a Defensive reincarnation of Shippy. Would love to see consistent top 20 defenses for a couple years.
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