University of South Florida Head Football Coach Willie Taggart today announced the addition of former Ole Miss linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Tom Allen to the Bulls’ staff as defensive coordinator. Allen will begin his duties with USF immediately.

Allen spent the last three seasons at Ole Miss where he helped the Rebels rise to the No. 3 ranking in the Associated Press poll this season and spend nine weeks in the top 10. The Rebels finished the season ranked No. 9 with a 9-3 record and will take on No. 6 TCU in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 31.

“I’m very excited to bring Tom Allen back to the Bay Area,” Taggart said. “Tom has been a part of a lot of winning during his coaching career, has helped guide some very aggressive and successful defenses, and has tremendous relationships in the Bay Area. We welcome Tom and his family to the Bulls’ family.”

The 2014 Ole Miss defense led the nation in scoring defense giving up just 13.8 ppg and allowing a national low of 18 touchdowns. The Rebel defense led the SEC in five categories and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in 11, including 10th in red zone defense, 11th in tackles for loss (7.5 per game), 12th in turnovers gained (28), 13th in total defense (321.2 ypg) and 13th in defensive touchdowns scored (4).

A 23-year coaching veteran at the collegiate and high school levels, Allen previously coached in the Bay Area early in his coaching career serving as head coach at Temple Heights High School (1992-94) and defensive coordinator at Armwood High School (1995-96). Allen has made five coaching stops on the collegiate level, serving as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at two and coaching numerous all-conference players, including All-SEC linebackers Serderius Bryant and Denzel Nkemdiche at Ole Miss.

Over the last 20 years, the teams for which Allen has been a member of the coaching staff have posted a combined record of 208-57 (.785). That record includes stops at seven different schools in the states of Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa, Arkansas and Mississippi.

As assistant head coach at Arkansas State (2011) under Hugh Freeze, Allen helped guide a defense that led the Sun Belt Conference in total defense and scoring defense and ranked in the top 25 nationally in both categories. The Red Wolves posted a 10-2 record and went unbeaten (8-0) in the Sun Belt.

Prior to ASU, Allen served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Drake (2010). The Bulldogs allowed just 330 yards per game while ranking No. 6 nationally in the FCS in rush defense (94.2 ypg), No. 8 in sacks (33), No. 17 in tackles for loss (81) and No. 25 in scoring defense (20.4 ppg).

Allen also worked with Freeze at NAIA Lambuth University (2008-09) where he served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and was part of two Mid-South Conference championships and the school’s first undefeated regular season (11-0) in 2009. His 2009 defense ranked No. 4 in scoring defense, No. 7 in pass defense and sacks, No. 9 in total defense and No. 12 in third down conversions nationally.

Allen’s other coaching stops include Wabash (Ind.) College (2007), head coach (2004-06) and defensive coordinator (1998-2003) at Ben Davis High School (Indianapolis) and defensive coordinator at Marion (Ind.) High School (1997).

An Indiana native, Allen earned his bachelor’s degree from Maranatha Baptist College (Wisconsin) in 1992 and went on to earn a master’s degree from Indiana University.

Allen and his wife, Tracy, have three children, Hannah, Thomas and Brittney.

Information courtesy, USF Communications