The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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48 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER T ed Roof is back living in the Triangle for the first time since his tenure as Duke's head coach ended following the 2007 season. The moving truck delivering furniture arrived Feb. 20, and Roof was happy to return to the area. But he has noticed one difference in the decade since he was gone. "This is a wonderful area," Roof said. "It's a good place to live and work, and it's a good place to recruit to. "It's enough of a city that there's plenty of things to do, but at the same time you don't get the big city feel and the things that come with that — although I will say the traffic has changed since the last time I was here. There are a lot more cars on the road." Roof was hired as NC State's 10th as- sistant coach, a move made possible by the NCAA's decision to allow programs to make an addition to their staffs. He had been the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech since 2013, and will be NC State's co- defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Roof had a few reasons why he chose to make this move at this time, and a major one was NC State's defensive coordinator since 2013 — Dave Huxtable. Roof and Huxtable have crossed paths many times over the years. Although they have never worked together, Roof noted he's "always enjoyed being around him." "I know it's a program on the rise and a program with a lot of momentum, but at this point of my career it's all about people," Roof said. "I've known Hux a long time, and I've just gotten to start to know Dave [Doeren], but I've followed him and respected the job he's done. "I've worked with George McDon- ald. I've worked with Eli Drinkwitz. I've worked with guys on the staff and have known guys that have been on the staff and respected the job that they did. "It was time to make a move, and this opportunity presented itself. It was one that I certainly jumped on." After leaving Duke, Roof has coached at Minnesota, Auburn, Penn State and Geor- gia Tech. He knows his first priority is get- ting to know his new players and school. In the past, settling his family was also para- mount, but it's different for Roof now that his children are older and out of the house. Not surprisingly, given the fact that he is from the state of Georgia, played at Geor- gia Tech and had two different coaching stints with the Yellow Jackets, Roof will have his recruiting responsibilities primar- ily centered on the Peach State. He will have parts of metro Atlanta through middle and southern Georgia and parts of northern Florida. Roof has made it a point to learn NC State's selling points. He has also al- ready picked up a cultural vibe around the Murphy Center. "It's blue-collar," Roof noted. "The work ethic of our players has really jumped out at me. They go the extra mile and then some. "As a coach, you love that and respect that. Not only as a coach, but in any busi- ness, you want people that are invested and have ownership in it. These guys get after it." Based on Roof's experiences, he would not expect less from NC State. He can re- call playing against players like quarter- back Erik Kramer, offensive lineman Joe Milinichik and running back Joe McIntosh when he was a star, All-ACC linebacker at Georgia Tech. He still vividly remem- bers his 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets losing 27-22 at home to NC State in 1984. In his year as the interim head coach at Duke in 2003, he relived going for it on fourth-and-one at the NC State 1-yard line unsuccessfully in what would be a 28-21 win for the Pack led by quarterback Philip Rivers. Roof is also amazed by the transforma- tion of the facilities around Carter-Fin- ley Stadium over the years, noting that entrance to the Murphy Center with the Wolves statue is grand. "The fan base here has always been pas- sionate," he added. "It's well supported. I WOLFPACK FOOTBALL NC State Hires Ted Roof As Its 10th Assistant Coach Roof comes to NC State after being the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech since 2013. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN