Breaking: Oklahoma State Hires Bryan Nardo as Defensive Coordinator

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.