Source: CVDaily Feed
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LOGAN, Utah – University of Houston officials announced Monday evening the hiring of Todd Orlando as its defensive coordinator. Orlando has spent the past two seasons as Utah State’s defensive coordinator.

Under Orlando’s direction, Utah State ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense in 2014 (19.7 ppg) and seventh nationally in 2013 (17.1 ppg). USU’s defense also ranked third nationally with 50 sacks in 2014 and second nationally with 114 tackles for loss. In his two-years at USU, Orlando’s defense ranked eighth nationally with 59 turnovers, ranking 10th nationally in 2014 with 30 turnovers including 19 interceptions, a number that ranked eighth-best nationally.

Utah State’s defense also ranked 17th nationally and second in the Mountain West with a pass efficiency defense of 111.42 during the 2014 season, while its rushing defense led the league with an average of 130.7 yards per game. USU’s defense was also second in the league with 356.1 yards allowed per game.

During the 2014 season, Utah State led the Mountain West with four first-team all-conference defenders in senior DE B.J. Larsen, senior SS Frankie Sutera, senior LB Zach Vigil and sophomore LB Nick Vigil. Zach Vigil was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time All-American.

During his first season at Utah State, Orlando’s Aggie defense ranked first in the Mountain West and seventh in the nation in scoring allowing just 17.1 points per game, the second-fewest allowed by an Aggie defense since 1971. USU also ranked first in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation in rushing defense (106.7 ypg), its fewest allowed since 1968, first in the Mountain West and 12th in the nation in total defense (330.9 ypg), and first in the Mountain West and 15th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (113.2).

Utah State’s 2013 defense also ranked sixth in the nation in the red zone, allowing opponents to score just 68.9 percent of the time, including just 19 touchdowns, to rank second nationally. Furthermore, USU’s defense ranked seventh in the nation in forcing three-and-outs with 5.6 per game, while its 7.6 tackles per loss per game ranked 10th nationally. USU’s defense also ranked 11th nationally in third-down conversions at 32.6 percent.

Utah State’s defense finished the 2013 season holding five of its final seven opponents to 14 or fewer points and did not give up more than 24 points in its last seven games. USU was also the only team in the nation not to allow a touchdown run of 10 or more yards in 2013, and allowed just two 100-yard rushers, while limiting its opponents to just 13 points following 16 turnovers.

Utah State (10-4, 6-2 MW) concluded its 2014 season with a 21-6 win against UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl as the six points allowed to the Miners is a USU bowl game record. Overall, it was USU’s third-straight bowl win in its fourth-straight bowl game, both of which are school records. USU’s 10 wins are also the second-most in school history behind the 2012 team that finished 11-2.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on Facebook at Utah State Football, as well as on Instagram at instagram.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

– USU –