2017 Events

Driesbach’s 2008 Rice defense held opponents to fewer total yards in all areas compared to 2007 while playing one additional game. The unit tied for seventh in the country in Turnover Margin (1.15) and tied for 10th in Fumble Recoveries (15). They held three opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and allowed just one rushing touchdown over the final three games. 

The Owls intercepted 16 passes during the season and returned four for touchdowns. In their Texas Bowl victory over Western Michigan, Rice’s defenders held the Broncos off the scoreboard until less than seven minutes remained in the game.

Prior to his time at Rice, Driesbach spent the previous two years as the cornerbacks coach at Michigan State.  Prior to his time with the Spartans, Driesbach served as the Defensive Coordinator at Ole Miss (2002-04), TCU (2001), Western Michigan (1997-2000); Pittsburgh (1993-96) and Cornell (1990-92). 

In 2003, Ole Miss tied for the Southeastern Conference Western Division title en route to a 10-3 record, including a 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl, and a No. 13 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. The Rebels ranked fourth in the SEC and No. 14 in the NCAA in rushing defense in 2003, allowing 102.5 yards per game. The Ole Miss defensive unit also ranked among the league  leaders in tackles for losses (106), interceptions (15) and turnovers forced (25).

In 2002, the Rebels went 7-6 including a 27-23 victory over Nebraska in the Independence Bowl.  Driesbach has crafted a number of nationally ranked defensive attacks while also developing numerous future NFL players including Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis, who was the 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

During his tenure, two Ole Miss players earned first-team All-SEC honors, including nose tackle Jesse Mitchell (2003) and linebacker Eddie Strong (2002). Driesbach also helped develop two players that were selected in the 2004 National Football League Draft: outside linebacker Charlie Anderson (Houston) and cornerback Von Hutchins (Indianapolis). 

Prior to his appointment at Mississippi, Driesbach spent the 2001 season at TCU where he served as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach under Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs finished 6-6 in 2001, including an appearance in the galleryfurniture.com

Bowl (vs. Texas A&M). In 2001, TCU ranked among the NCAA leaders in both rushing defense (No. 10 at 93.8 yards per game) and total defense (No. 24 at 322.5 ypg). Driesbach tutored linebacker LaMarcus McDonald, a second-team all-league selection in 2001, who went on to be named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. 

He served as defensive coordinator for four years under Gary Darnell at Western Michigan (1997-2000), helping the Broncos win back-to-back Mid-American Conference West Division titles in 1999-2000. Driesbach worked with the Bronco outside linebackers for the first three years before taking over the safeties in 2000. 

Western Michigan recorded three shutouts (vs. Indiana, Kent State and Eastern Michigan) on its way to a 9-3 overall record in 2000.  The Broncos also snapped the nation’s longest home winning streak at 33 games by posting a 30-10 victory over Marshall in Huntington, W.Va. Western Michigan ranked among the NCAA leaders in scoring defense (No. 4 at 11.6 points per game), total defense (No. 9 at 283.3 ypg) and rushing defense (No. 20 at 105.3 ypg) in 2000. The Broncos held seven opponents below the 100-yard rushing mark, while four opponents failed to throw for 100 yards in a game. 

For his efforts in 2000, Driesbach was nominated for the Frank Broyles Award, which is named in honor of the former Arkansas head coach and presented annually to the nation’s top assistant football coach.

In his final season at Western Michigan, Driesbach worked with defensive end Jason Babin, who became the only true freshman on the Bronco roster to letter in 2000. Babin went on to earn All-America honors as a senior in 2003 and became the first player in WMU history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, going to Houston (No. 27 overall) in 2004. 

In 1997, he played a major role in helping Western Michigan post the nation’s biggest turnaround, producing an 8-3 record after finishing just 2-9 in 1996. 

Driesbach spent four years as defensive coordinator under John Majors at Pittsburgh (1993-96) where his pupils included three future NFL players: defensive back Anthony Dorsett, Jr. (Houston, 1996; Tennessee, 1997-99; and Oakland, 2000-03), linebacker Tom Tumulty (Cincinnati, 1996-99) and defensive tackle Mike Mohring (San Diego, 1997-2001; and Oakland, 2002). 

He worked for three years as defensive coordinator under Jim Hofher at Cornell (1990-92), where he helped the Big Red to a combined record of 19-11 (.633), including the 1990 Ivy League championship. 

In 1989, Driesbach began his first stint at Ole Miss where he coached the defensive secondary for Billy Brewer. The Rebels finished 8-4 in 1989, including a 42-29 victory over Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. 

His college coaching credits include a two-year stop at East Carolina (1987-88) where he worked with the running backs in addition to performing the duties of admissions and academic coordinator for head coach Art Baker. While on the ECU coaching staff, Driesbach recruited linebacker Robert Jones, who later became a consensus All-American and Butkus Award finalist in 1991 and a first-round pick (No. 24 overall) by Dallas in the 1992 NFL Draft. 

Driesbach spent three seasons at Wake Forest (1984-86) where he coached on both sides of the football for Al Groh. He worked with the defensive line for two years before overseeing the receivers and tight ends in 1986. During his tenure with the Demon Deacons, Driesbach tutored three future NFL players, including defensive lineman Gary Baldinger (Kansas City, 1986-88; Indianapolis, 1989; and Buffalo, 1990-92), tight end Greg Scales (New Orleans, 1988-91) and wide receiver Ricky Proehl (Phoenix/Arizona, 1990-94; Seattle, 1995-96; Chicago,1997; St. Louis, 1998-2002; and Carolina, 2003-05). 

He began his coaching career at Kansas State where he spent eight seasons (1976-83), including three years as a graduate assistant under Ellis Rainsburger and five more as a full-time assistant under Jim Dickey. As a graduate assistant, Driesbach worked primarily with the tight ends and receivers, including future NFL All-Pro Paul Coffman (Green Bay, 1978-85; and Kansas City, 1986-87). 

From 1979-83, Driesbach coached the Wildcat defensive secondary.  In 1982, Kansas State (6-5-1) made its first-ever postseason appearance, earning a trip to the Independence Bowl (vs. Wisconsin).  In 1980, the Wildcats led the NCAA in pass defense, allowing just 91.4 yards per game. 

During his stay in Manhattan, Kan., Driesbach recruited three future pros, including wide receivers Eugene Goodlow (New Orleans, 1983-86) and Gerald Alphin (New Orleans, 1990-91) and tailback Tony Jordan (Phoenix, 1989-90).  

PERSONAL

A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Driesbach was a three-year starter at wide receiver for Coach Lou Ferry at Villanova (1972-74). He earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Villanova in 1975.

Married to the former Kim Widmer of Coffeyville, Kan., Driesbach and his wife have two daughters: Lindsay, who graduated from Michigan State in 2006, and Kate, a 2008 graduate of Ole Miss.

DRIESBACH’S COACHING CAREER
NFL
Buffalo Bills	2013	Linebackers
COLLEGE
Rice	2010-11	Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/ Safeties
Rice	2007-09	Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Michigan State	2005-06	Cornerbacks
Mississippi	2002-04	Defensive Coordinator
TCU	2001	Defensive Coordinator
Western Michigan	1997-2000	Defensive Coordinator
Pittsburgh	1993-96	Defensive Coordinator
Cornell	1990-92	Defensive Coordinator
Mississippi	1989	Secondary
East Carolina	1987-88	Running Backs
Wake Forest	1984-86	Defensive Line (84-85) / WR &TE (86)
Kansas State	1976-83	Graduate Asst. (76-78)/ Defensive Backs (79-83)