Blake Gideon, a two-time national position coach of the year who played a key role in shaping one of the top defenses in the country at Texas, has been appointed as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key expressed excitement about welcoming Blake, Mary Catherine, Barrett, and Catherine to the Georgia Tech football family. He praised Blake for his outstanding work in developing student-athletes and preparing them to play winning defense throughout his career and looks forward to him bringing that same success to The Flats.
Gideon joins Georgia Tech after spending four seasons (2021-24) as the safeties coach at Texas, his alma mater. In 2024, he was elevated to associate head coach for defense. During his tenure, he contributed to the Longhorns’ steady improvement, with their win totals rising from five to eight, then 12, and finally 13, culminating in back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024.
In 2024, Football Scoop honored him as the National Defensive Backs Coach of the Year after Texas ranked among the nation’s top 10 in several key defensive categories. The Longhorns led the country in interceptions (22) and passing yards allowed per attempt (5.69), ranked second in passing efficiency defense (104.56) and takeaways (31), and placed third in total defense (283.4 yards per game), scoring defense (15.3 points per game), red zone defense (.692), yards allowed per play (4.4), and passing defense (173.8 yards per game). They also finished eighth in third-down defense (.314).
Gideon played a key role in developing standout defensive backs, including safety Michael Taffe, who went from a walk-on to a first-team All-American, and all-SEC safety Andrew Mukuba. He also helped coach 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron.
“My family and I are thrilled to join the Georgia Tech football family,” Gideon said. “I’m grateful to Coach Key for this opportunity and excited to work alongside him, the talented staff he’s assembled, and an outstanding group of players. The future of Tech football is bright, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Before his four-year tenure at Texas, Gideon spent one season each as special teams coordinator and nickel backs coach at Ole Miss (2020) and Houston (2019). His work at Houston earned him Football Scoop’s National Special Teams Coordinator of the Year award.
In 2018, he coached cornerbacks at Georgia State after two seasons (2016-17) as defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator at Western Carolina. At WCU, he developed four all-Southern Conference players, including All-American Marvin Tillman and NFL draft pick Keion Crossen.
Gideon began his coaching career in 2014 as a quality control assistant at Florida, followed by a graduate assistant role at Auburn in 2015, working with the secondary at both schools.
As a player, he was one of the most accomplished defensive backs in Texas history (2008-11), starting all four years at safety. He helped lead the Longhorns to the 2010 national championship game, wins in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl and 2011 Holiday Bowl, and a Big 12 title in 2009. Texas posted 13- and 12-win seasons in 2008 and 2009, finishing in the top five nationally both years (No. 3 in 2008, No. 2 in 2009). Individually, he recorded 276 tackles, 10 interceptions, 20 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked punt. He was a four-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, a freshman All-American in 2008, a two-time team captain, and a two-time member of the athletics director’s honor roll.
After earning his B.S. in kinesiology and health from Texas in 2011, Gideon had brief stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos before transitioning to coaching.
Originally from Leander, Texas, he is married to Mary Catherine Abernathy, and they have two children, Barrett and Catherine. His father, Steve Gideon, was a longtime high school football coach in Texas, leading Blake’s alma mater to six state playoff appearances in eight seasons (2003-10).
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