Ten days after losing to Navy, the Cincinnati Bearcats have gone to Army to hire their new defensive coordinator.
The Bearcats have hired Nate Woody, a veteran coach who has been Army’s defensive coordinator under head coach Jeff Monken since 2020. The Black Knights were 7-6 this past season and won the Wasabi Fenway Bowl over Connecticut 41-16.
Army led the nation in total defense in 2024 and had the leading red-zone defense and No. 4 scoring defense that year. Army won 12 games in 2024 and this past season notched a win over Kansas State from the Big 12.
“I’m excited to announce Nate Woody as our defensive coordinator,” UC coach Scott Satterfield said. “I have known Nate since bringing him in 2013 to Appalachian State, where our defenses had tremendous success over several years. He has continued to coach outstanding, aggressive defenses at Army. He’s one of the best coordinators in the country.”
Nate Woody background
Woody played college football at Wofford and was their defensive coordinator from 2000-2012. From 2013-2017 he was UC coach Scott Satterfield’s defensive coordinator at Appalachian State. He spent 2018 on Georgia Tech’s staff and 2019 with Michigan before joining the Black Knights in 2020.
UC linebackers coach Cort Braswell came from Woody’s Army defensive staff.
“I am excited to reunite with Coach Satterfield at Cincinnati,” Woody said. “I have had the utmost respect for him since our time at Appalachian State. I am looking forward to connecting with the staff and student-athletes as we build into the spring and fall.”
Over his six years at West Point, Army finished in the Top 25 twice and was 24-9 in November/December with bowl wins over Missouri, Louisiana Tech and UConn. It was in the Top 15 for total defense three times, leading the nation in 2020.
Team highlights for 2025 included a road win at Kansas State, snapping UTSA’s 25-game home conference win streak and dominating 9-3 UConn in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. Two defensive players also earned All-Star game bids to the College Gridiron Showcase and Hula Bowl.
The 2024 season saw Army win a program-record 12 games and the AAC title. The Black Knights led the nation in red-zone defense, allowing only 24 scores (18 touchdowns) in 40 trips (60 percent). Army’s 15.5 ppg allowed was fourth nationally, and it was only the third season since 1996 that the academy surrendered under 220 points or less on the year, all while playing 14 games.
In 2024 Army had 18 interceptions, and they had eight in 2025. The 2025 Cincinnati Bearcats picked off just two passes. In his first Army season in 2020, the Black Knights held Desmond Ridder and the eventual Peach Bowl Bearcats to a modest 331 yards in a 24-10 game at Nippert Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats hire new defensive coordinator Nate Woody from Army
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
