The new defensive coordinator has been hired by Arkansas State

Jonesboro, Arkansas – This week, the Arkansas State Red Wolves football team made the announcement that they had hired a new defensive coordinator.

In a statement released on Friday, head coach Butch Jones announced that Nate Dreiling will take over as the team’s defensive coordinator starting in 2025.

In 2024, Dreiling served as Utah State’s defensive coordinator before taking over as interim head coach in July following the dismissal of former ASU head coach Blake Anderson.

Nate Dreiling is a proven winner who participated in an NCAA championship as a player and has produced exceptional results as a defensive coordinator at FBS, FCS, and Division II programs. According to Jones, Dreiling has continuously shown that he can have an instantaneous and beneficial coaching influence on the defensive side of the ball.

Jones welcomed Dreiling and his family to the Red Wolves family and described him as a proven leader in the statement.

“His players are known for putting forth their best effort, and his defensive units have ranked among the best in the nation in multiple statistical categories,” Jones added, describing him as a highly respected defensive mind in college football. “We are thrilled to have someone with his level of experience as a coach, recruiter, and leader join our team. We would like to extend a warm welcome to the Arkansas State football family to Coach Dreiling, his wife Alexa, daughters Baylor and Baisley, and son Baker.

Prior to being hired at Utah State, Dreiling held positions at Oregon, Southeast Missouri State, and New Mexico State. He won a title as a linebacker at Pittsburg State in 2011 and served as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019.

“I am ecstatic about this opportunity with Arkansas State and would like to express my gratitude to Coach Jones and Jeff Purinton, the Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics at A-State,” Dreiling stated. “Coach Jones and the programs he has established are well respected by me.
Joining this A-State program, which is gaining momentum and is well-positioned to capitalize on its ongoing success, excites me.

Under coach Butch Jones, who succeeded Blake Anderson in 2021, the Red Wolves have advanced to bowl games in consecutive seasons. In the 68 Ventures Bowl, the squad defeated Bowling Green 38-31 to wrap off the 2024 campaign.

The 2025 season will present Dreiling with a challenging assignment as the team will host the Iowa State Cyclones in Jonesboro the next week after playing the Arkansas Razorbacks for the first time in September.