The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Q&A with Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach Vance Bedford
01.20.2014 | Football
Bedford, a former Longhorn cornerback, spent the last four seasons as Charlie Strong's defensive coordinator at Louisville
A former Longhorn, Vance Bedford is in his first season as the Texas defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Bedford spent the last four seasons as the defensive coordinator for head coach Charlie Strong at Louisville, overseeing some of the top defenses in the nation.
During his coaching career, Bedford has been part of two National Championships, with Florida in the 2008 season and Michigan in 1997, and he was also the position coach for 1997 Heisman Trophy winning defensive back Charles Woodson.
Bedford was a UT starting cornerback and served as team captain in 1980.
Here is a Q&A with Bedford:
Are you happy to be home?
"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to come back home. I started my career here at The University of Texas in 1977, am born and raised in the state of Texas and to be able to come back and help put this team back on the right track is something I'm really looking forward to."
You and Coach Strong have been together for a while, tell us about the type of team he'll build?
"I've known Coach Strong for quite some time, and he was one of the reasons I was able to get to the University of Florida when he took that job. At Louisville, he named me defensive coordinator and one thing about this football team that I can guarantee is he's going to bring is a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of intensity. We will have a very physical football team. So that's what you're going to see out of this team for the next several years – physicality. We're going to play 60 minutes, and people are going to have a lot of fun watching us play."
What does it mean to be a Longhorn?
"I was telling the guys (who came from Louisville) how great it feels just being back here. Seeing that stadium, one of the first things I remembered was as a true freshman in 1977. We were playing Boston College and were out there for pregame warm-ups and the band came in. Hundreds of them marching in and playing. It's amazing after all these years that's what I remember most about playing here was as a true freshman, the band marching in, watching those guys march and the crowd cheer. Texas really is just an awesome place because of all of its tradition. I love the idea of being at a University that has such great pride, history and tradition."
What are your early memories of the Longhorns?
"To be honest, as a young child growing up in the state of Texas, I wasn't a Longhorn fan (laugh). I really wasn't, I loved the color red. I liked Oklahoma, USC, Arkansas, University of Houston, and I came to The University of Texas and ever since then Burnt Orange has been my favorite color. It's in my blood. I've been keeping up with Texas over the years and I was excited when Vince Young led them to a National Championship. They got back to it again a few years later against Alabama. I know as a player, it's just such a great feeling to have a chance to play for championships, and Texas does that. Coach (Mack) Brown did a tremendous job here for 16 years. He put Texas back at the top where it should always be. As a Texas-ex, I really appreciate everything Coach Brown did and enjoyed watching his teams. Coach Strong just wants to continue what Coach Brown has put in place, get us back to the top and to make the fans and alumni proud of the product we put on the field."
Describe your defensive style?
"Aggressive, in your face, we want to pressure people. We want to make things happen defensively. We want to always be on the attack."
Texas has a proud tradition of defenses, why do you think defense is so important here?
"My father was a high school coach and he always said 'offense wins games but defense wins championships.' If you can slow someone down, you have a chance to win championships. That's why defense is so important in this state and especially for defensive backs. When Fred Akers recruited us in 1977 we were playing man-to-man when very few across the country were doing that. I believe everybody I played with when I was here went to the National Football League. So a big reason they came here was to play man-to-man defense and that will put you in the pros. I think that will continue. They've continued that tradition of having great defensive backs and defensive players here. They've had great defensive teams over the years and we hope to continue that here and again get the top players in the state to come to Texas and play great defense like its been played here for so many years.
