The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Secondary
A former Texas defensive back, Vance Bedford returned to his alma mater and is in his third season as defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Bedford spent the previous four seasons with head coach Charlie Strong as defensive coordinator at Louisville.
A native of Beaumont, Texas, Bedford was a four-year letterman (1977-79, 1981) and was a starter at cornerback for Texas. He was also voted team captain in 1980 despite missing most of that season with an injury. He set a then-UT season record for pass breakups with 22 in 1981 and is currently fifth on the career pass breakup list (47). Bedford played in the Cotton and Sun bowls twice during his career. He also earned Most Valuable Player honors in the 1982 Senior Bowl All-Star game.
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, who is the only primary defensive player to win the award.
During the 2015 season, Bedford mentored a defensive unit which saw seven players garner All-Big 12 accolades, including three cornerbacks. Freshmen Davante Davis and Holton Hill earned All-Big 12 honors, while senior Duke Thomas was also recognized. The Longhorns defense ranked among the nation’s best in several statistical categories. Texas finished the season fifth nationally with 37 sacks and 11th nationally with 12 fumbles recovered. Both marks led the Big 12 Conference. Additionally, the Longhorns were eighth in the country with a plus-11 turnover margin and second in the Big 12 with three defensive touchdowns. True freshman Malik Jefferson was named a consensus Freshman All-American following the 2015 season in Bedford's defense.
Bedford saw five former players either drafted or sign contracts as undrafted free agents during the 2016 NFL Draft process. Former Louisville recruit DT Sheldon Rankins was selected in the first round (12th overall) by the New Orleans Saints, while Texas DT Hassan Ridgeway was taken in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to the two players drafted, DT Shiro Davis (Washington Redskins) and CB Duke Thomas (Houston Texans) signed as free agents from Texas, while LB James Burgess signed from Louisville.
In 2014, Bedford oversaw a defense that ranked among the nation’s best. Texas finished the season ranked 25th in the FBS in total yards allowed (348.5 per game), No. 11 in passing defense (184.2 ypg), No. 7 in yards allowed per play (4.68), 15th in passing efficiency defense (110.04 rating), tied for 11th in sacks (3.1 pg) and 31st in points allowed (23.8 pg). In addition, the Longhorns posted 15 interceptions, which was tied for 23rd in the FBS.
Under his guidance, defensive tackle Malcom Brown was a finalist for both the Nagurski and Outland trophies, as well as becoming the 47th consensus All-American in school history. Brown and linebacker Jordan Hicks earned All-America honors. They were also among seven defenders to secure All-Big 12 accolades.
Brown (first round to New England) and Hicks (third round to Philadelphia), along with safety Mykkele Thompson (fifth round to NY Giants) and cornerback Quandre Diggs (sixth round to Detroit), were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. In addition, defensive end Cedric Reed (Buffalo) signed as a free agent after the draft and four of Bedford’s former defensive players at Louisville were chosen, including three defensive backs.
At Louisville, Bedford helped Strong amass a 37-15 record and a pair of Big East Conference Championships (2011, 2012). The Cardinals also made four straight bowl game appearances (3-1 record), including a victory over No. 4 Florida in the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
During 2012-13, Louisville was the nation’s fourth-winningest program, posting a 23-3 record (88.5 percent) and registered bowl victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The Cardinals’ 11-plus win seasons in 2012 and 2013 were the fourth and fifth in school history and the first back to back.
In 2013, the Cardinals finished ranked 15th in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls after compiling a 12-1 record, including a 7-1 mark in the American Athletic Conference, marking the first back-to-back Top 15 finishes in school history. The year was capped with a 36-9 win over Miami (Fla.) in the Russell Athletic Bowl as Bedford’s defense held the Hurricanes to just 174 total yards. It marked just the second 12-win season in school history (2006).
The Cards led the nation in total defense (251.5 yards per game), rushing defense (80.7 ypg), sacks (3.31 pg), fewest first downs allowed (183), and third-down conversion defense (26.7 percent). UofL also ranked second in scoring defense (12.2 points per game), while placing in the top 10 in passing efficiency defense (fourth), passing yards allowed (fifth), tackles for loss (sixth) and red-zone defense (fifth). DE Marcus Smith was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, earned second-team All-America honors and was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, while leading the nation in sacks (1.1 per game/14). The defense featured three other first-team All-AAC selections in CB Charles Gaines, S Calvin Pryor and S Hakeem Smith. Both Pryor and Marcus Smith were first-round picks in the 2014 NFL Draft.
In 2012, UofL posted an 11-2 record, claimed a Big East Championship and finished the year ranked 13th in the BCS Standings, USA Today Coaches Poll and AP Poll. The Cards capped the year with a 33-23 upset win over the fourth-ranked Gators in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Louisville ranked 16th in passing defense (154.2 ypg) and 23rd in total defense (340.3 ypg). Pryor made first-team All-Big East that season along with S Adrian Bushell.
In Bedford’s first two seasons with the program (2010-11), Louisville recorded 7-6 records, including winning five of its last six games in 2011 to win a share of the Big East title. The defense ranked 10th in the nation against the run (100.5 ypg), while registering in the top 25 in scoring defense (17th/20.1 ppg), total defense (23rd/327.9 ypg), sacks (21st/2.54 pg) and tackles for loss (22nd/7.1 pg). Smith and Bushell earned first-team All-Big East honors.
The 2010 season finished with a win over Southern Mississippi, 31-28, in the 2010 Beef `O’ Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Cardinals defense was once again one of the best in the nation, ranking sixth in sacks (3.0 pg), ninth in pass defense (167.4 ypg), 13th in third-down conversion defense (34.1 percent), 14th in total defense (311.7 ypg) and 18th in scoring defense (19.4 ppg). CB Johnny Patrick earned first-team All-Big East recognition, while Smith received the first of his three all-conference nods on the second team.
Prior to Louisville, Bedford served two years (2008-09) as the cornerbacks coach at Florida with Strong as defensive coordinator. They guided one of the nation’s top defensive units, finishing in the top six in four statistical categories. UF was fourth in the nation in scoring defense (12.4 ppg), second in passing defense (152.8 ypg), fourth in total defense (252.6 ypg) and sixth in passing efficiency defense (96.1 rating) as the Gators went 13-1, including a trip to the SEC Championship game. Florida finished the season with a 51-24 win over Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl and a No. 3 ranking in both polls. CB Joe Haden earned unanimous first-team All-America honors and was a Thorpe Award finalist.
In 2008, the Florida defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including a school-record tying 26 interceptions that also tied for the most in the country that season. UF’s scoring defense showed the third-largest improvement from 2007 to 2008, finishing fourth in the nation by yielding only 12.9 points per game. The defense also ranked ninth in total defense (285.3 ypg), and third in pass efficiency defense (96.76 rating). In the 2009 BCS National Championship Game versus Oklahoma, which entered the contest scoring a nation’s best 54.0 ppg, the UF defense held Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and the Sooners to just 14 points and 363 total yards in a 24-14 win. Haden earned second-team All-SEC honors.
Bedford spent one season as secondary coach under Lloyd Carr in his second stint at Michigan in 2007. The Wolverines finished eighth in the nation in pass defense (178.9 ypg), 17th in pass efficiency defense (109.5), 23rd in scoring defense (21.4 ppg) and 24th in total defense (335.7 ypg) en route to a 9-4 record and a win over Florida in the Capital One Bowl.
Prior to Michigan, Bedford served two years as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in 2005-06. The Cowboys ranked eighth in the nation in tackles for loss and 12th in sacks in 2006. Safety Andre Sexton was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, while DE Victor DeGrate was named second-team All-Big 12 and finished tied for 18th in the nation in sacks. Oklahoma State finished the season with a 7-6 mark, including a win over Alabama in the Independence Bowl. In 2005, the Cowboys also ranked in the top 30 in the nation in tackles for loss.
Bedford made his way to the NFL in 1999 as the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears. He remained with the team until 2004, and during that time his secondary returned seven interceptions for touchdowns during a four-year stretch, equaling the team’s total from the previous nine seasons combined. While with Chicago, Bedford coached former Longhorn Pro Bowler Nathan Vasher.
During his first stint with Michigan as secondary coach (1995-98), Bedford’s unit led the nation in pass defense in 1997 and ranked 20th in 1996. The Wolverines’ 1997 national championship secondary, led by Heisman Trophy winner Woodson, set an NCAA record allowing just 8.8 yards per completion and finished fifth nationally by allowing just 133.8 passing yards per contest. His secondary in 1997 led the Big Ten and finished third nationally with 22 interceptions. Along with the Heisman Trophy, Woodson was a two-time All-American (1996-97) and the winner of the 1997 Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Thorpe Award.
Bedford began his coaching career at Forest Brook High School in Houston, Texas, in 1985. He moved into the collegiate ranks at Navarro (Texas) Junior College in 1986, before accepting a position at Colorado State in 1987. Bedford was the Rams’ defensive backs coach for five seasons (1987-92). His 1990 secondary set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions. He spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oklahoma State (1993-94) before going to Michigan.
After his collegiate playing career, Bedford was selected in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played one season with the Cardinals (1982) and one year with the USFL’s Oklahoma Outlaws (1984) before beginning his coaching career. Bedford is married to the former Margaret Bulloch.
