Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Football
Bates, Todd
Todd Bates
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Run Defense / Defensive Tackles
Coaching Notes and Accomplishments
• Named Oklahoma’s associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator/run defense on Jan. 4, 2022. He coaches OU’s defensive tackles.
• Part of an Oklahoma defensive staff that helped the Sooners tie for fourth nationally in tackles for loss (104) in 2022 and 11th nationally (98) in 2023.
• The only DL coach nationally since 2019 to produce at least three NFL Draft picks in each of three drafts (2019, '23, '24).
• Rivals’ 2019 Recruiter of the Year who helped Clemson win a national title in 2018, Bates coached with Brent Venables and the Tigers from 2017-21.
• His units were a major factor in Clemson leading the nation in sacks (235) and tackles for loss (565) during his five seasons.
• Coached all four defensive line positions in 2017 (first Clemson coach to do so since 2004) before shifting focus to the defensive tackles in 2018. He added the title of recruiting coordinator following the 2019 campaign.
• Mentored three first-round draft picks and nine All-Americans during his time at Clemson and Jacksonville State (2014-16). Every primary starter under his tutelage at those two schools earned all-conference honors.
• Helped the Tigers sign classes that ranked in Rivals’ top 10 nationally four straight years: eighth in 2018, ninth in 2019, second in 2020 and seventh in 2021. The 2020 class was ranked No. 1 by ESPN.
• Clemson’s 2021 defensive unit ranked second nationally in scoring defense (15.0 ppg), sixth in sacks (41.0; tied) and eighth in rushing defense (98.8 ypg).
• His 2020 interior group helped the Tigers tie for the national lead in sacks (46) and rank second in tackles for loss (109). He coached Bryan Bresee to freshman All-America and first-team All-ACC status in 2020, as Bresee joined Dexter Lawrence as the only two Clemson players ever to earn ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Bresee’s four sacks were the most by a true freshman interior lineman in 2020, Clemson’s second straight season having the FBS leader among first-year defensive tackles in that category (Tyler Davis in 2019).
• Comprised a duo that was one of four finalists for 2020 FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year award.
• In 2019, accelerated the development of a young defensive line that helped the Tigers hold each of their first 12 opponents under 300 total yards. Clemson was the first FBS program since at least 1996 to accomplish the feat.
• Both of his primary 2019 starters — true freshman Tyler Davis (second-team) and Nyles Pinckney (third-team) — earned All-ACC selections. Davis made 13 starts, the most by a true freshman defensive lineman in Clemson history.
• Clemson boasted one of the nation’s best defensive lines in 2017 and ’18. Comprised of tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence and ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, the Tigers’ unit anchored a 2018 defense that led the nation in points allowed (13.1 ppg) and ranked fifth in total defense (285.9 ypg). Ferrell (fourth), Wilkins (13th) and Lawrence (17th) were all selected among the first 17 picks of the 2019 NFL Draft.
• Helped Wilkins collect Outland, Nagurski, Bednarik and Lott IMPACT finalist selections in 2018 in addition to winning the William V. Campbell Trophy. Wilkins became the fifth unanimous All-American in Clemson history in 2018.
• In his three years at Jacksonville State, the Gamecocks compiled a 33-6 overall record and a 23-0 conference mark, won three Ohio Valley Conference titles and reached the 2015 FCS National Championship game.
• Produced multiple All-OVC selections in each of his three years at Jacksonville State. All four primary D-line starters in those seasons (Caleb Lawrence, Devaunte Sigler, Randy Robinson and Esmond Owing) earned all-conference honors.
• Helped the 2016 JSU squad to a 10-2 record and No. 6 final FCS ranking with the nation’s fourth-ranked defense (275.0 ypg). In 2014, the Gamecocks led the league in rushing defense (127.7 ypg).
• Began his coaching career at Talladega (Ala.) High School in 2007 and Oxford (Ala.) High School from 2008-11.
• Spent time as an assistant coach at Idaho State from 2011-12 and at East Central (Miss.) Junior College in 2013.
As a Player
• A native of Heflin, Ala., played at Alabama from 2001-04, earning three letters and serving as a team captain in 2004.
• Spent the 2005 and ’06 seasons with the Tennessee Titans before injuries ended his playing career.
• Named Oklahoma’s associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator/run defense on Jan. 4, 2022. He coaches OU’s defensive tackles.
• Part of an Oklahoma defensive staff that helped the Sooners tie for fourth nationally in tackles for loss (104) in 2022 and 11th nationally (98) in 2023.
• The only DL coach nationally since 2019 to produce at least three NFL Draft picks in each of three drafts (2019, '23, '24).
• Rivals’ 2019 Recruiter of the Year who helped Clemson win a national title in 2018, Bates coached with Brent Venables and the Tigers from 2017-21.
• His units were a major factor in Clemson leading the nation in sacks (235) and tackles for loss (565) during his five seasons.
• Coached all four defensive line positions in 2017 (first Clemson coach to do so since 2004) before shifting focus to the defensive tackles in 2018. He added the title of recruiting coordinator following the 2019 campaign.
• Mentored three first-round draft picks and nine All-Americans during his time at Clemson and Jacksonville State (2014-16). Every primary starter under his tutelage at those two schools earned all-conference honors.
• Helped the Tigers sign classes that ranked in Rivals’ top 10 nationally four straight years: eighth in 2018, ninth in 2019, second in 2020 and seventh in 2021. The 2020 class was ranked No. 1 by ESPN.
• Clemson’s 2021 defensive unit ranked second nationally in scoring defense (15.0 ppg), sixth in sacks (41.0; tied) and eighth in rushing defense (98.8 ypg).
• His 2020 interior group helped the Tigers tie for the national lead in sacks (46) and rank second in tackles for loss (109). He coached Bryan Bresee to freshman All-America and first-team All-ACC status in 2020, as Bresee joined Dexter Lawrence as the only two Clemson players ever to earn ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Bresee’s four sacks were the most by a true freshman interior lineman in 2020, Clemson’s second straight season having the FBS leader among first-year defensive tackles in that category (Tyler Davis in 2019).
• Comprised a duo that was one of four finalists for 2020 FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year award.
• In 2019, accelerated the development of a young defensive line that helped the Tigers hold each of their first 12 opponents under 300 total yards. Clemson was the first FBS program since at least 1996 to accomplish the feat.
• Both of his primary 2019 starters — true freshman Tyler Davis (second-team) and Nyles Pinckney (third-team) — earned All-ACC selections. Davis made 13 starts, the most by a true freshman defensive lineman in Clemson history.
• Clemson boasted one of the nation’s best defensive lines in 2017 and ’18. Comprised of tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence and ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant, the Tigers’ unit anchored a 2018 defense that led the nation in points allowed (13.1 ppg) and ranked fifth in total defense (285.9 ypg). Ferrell (fourth), Wilkins (13th) and Lawrence (17th) were all selected among the first 17 picks of the 2019 NFL Draft.
• Helped Wilkins collect Outland, Nagurski, Bednarik and Lott IMPACT finalist selections in 2018 in addition to winning the William V. Campbell Trophy. Wilkins became the fifth unanimous All-American in Clemson history in 2018.
• In his three years at Jacksonville State, the Gamecocks compiled a 33-6 overall record and a 23-0 conference mark, won three Ohio Valley Conference titles and reached the 2015 FCS National Championship game.
• Produced multiple All-OVC selections in each of his three years at Jacksonville State. All four primary D-line starters in those seasons (Caleb Lawrence, Devaunte Sigler, Randy Robinson and Esmond Owing) earned all-conference honors.
• Helped the 2016 JSU squad to a 10-2 record and No. 6 final FCS ranking with the nation’s fourth-ranked defense (275.0 ypg). In 2014, the Gamecocks led the league in rushing defense (127.7 ypg).
• Began his coaching career at Talladega (Ala.) High School in 2007 and Oxford (Ala.) High School from 2008-11.
• Spent time as an assistant coach at Idaho State from 2011-12 and at East Central (Miss.) Junior College in 2013.
As a Player
• A native of Heflin, Ala., played at Alabama from 2001-04, earning three letters and serving as a team captain in 2004.
• Spent the 2005 and ’06 seasons with the Tennessee Titans before injuries ended his playing career.
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