Tyson Summers was promoted to Defensive Coordinator at WKU on Feb. 23, 2022.
During his first two seasons on The Hill, Summers has produced one of the most electric defenses in the country. While the Hilltoppers have been known for their high-scoring offenses under Head Coach Tyson Helton, Summers has put together a unit that has led the nation in defensive touchdowns during the last two seasons. The Hilltopper defense has found the end zone a combined nine times in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. WKU has recorded 58 takeaways over the last two seasons, ranking first in the nation in 2022 and tied for seventh nationally in 2023.
Under Summers in 2023, the Hilltoppers claimed 26 takeaways, which led Conference USA. WKU's 11 fumble recoveries were seventh nationally and the 15 passes intercepted were 15th in the country – marks that ranked first and second in CUSA, respectively. He coached two CUSA All-Conference Second Team Defense selections in defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler and safety Kendrick Simpkins, who led the nation in sacks by a defensive back and was tied for fifth in the country in forced fumbles per game. He also oversaw cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr., who was named a CUSA All-Conference Honorable Mention selection after leading the league in interceptions per game.
Summers made a splash in his first year at WKU in 2022, as the Hilltoppers ranked first in the nation in forced turnovers with 32 and recorded the most defensive touchdowns in college football with six. WKU's 19 interceptions were third-most in the nation, and the defense jumped on 13 fumbles – a number that ranked seventh in the country. Summers was named a candidate for the 2022 Broyles Award, which is given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. In his first year as WKU's Defensive Coordinator, Summers helped produced a CUSA All-Conference First Team Defense selection in JaQues Evans and a Second Team honoree in cornerback Kahlef Hailassie. Defensive end Juwuan Jones, defensive tackle Brodric Martin, linebacker Derrick Smith, defensive back Kaleb Oliver, and defensive back Upton Stout were also named CUSA All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2022.
Since Summers' arrival at WKU, several Hilltopper defenders have had an opportunity to play professional football at the highest level. Martin was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, while Hailassie earned a spot on the Cleveland Browns' roster after departing WKU. In addition to Martin and Hailassie, Oliver received rookie mini camp invitations from the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2023 NFL Draft, and cornerback Davion Williams and defensive tackle Kenyonte Davis received rookie mini camp invitations from the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants, respectively, following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Summers originally joined the Hilltopper football staff in January 2022 as the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach, boasting a resume that includes 20 years of coaching experience, before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator.
Before coming to The Hill, Summers most recently served as a Defensive Analyst for Florida during the 2021 campaign, where the Gators finished the season ranked 25th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game.
Prior to his stint in Gainesville, Summers was the Defensive Coordinator at Colorado in 2019 and 2020. The Buffaloes compiled a 4-2 record during their shortened 2020 season, finishing the year ranked third in the country in defensive fourth down conversion percentage and 13th in third down conversion percentage. Colorado also ranked seventh in tackles for loss as a team, with Carson Wells ranking first in the nation individually in tackles for loss per game.
Summers saw three of his former players taken in the 2020 NFL Draft in Colorado safety Davion Taylor (Philadelphia – 3rd Round) along with Georgia Southern cornerback Kindle Vildor (Chicago – 5th Round) and placekicker Tyler Bass (Miami – 6th Round). A fourth former player, Georgia safety J.R. Reed, also signed as a free agent with Jacksonville following the draft.
Summers came to Colorado from Georgia, where he spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons working in a Defensive Quality Control role. While in Athens, the Bulldogs won two SEC East Division titles. Georgia also won the SEC Championship in 2017 before eventually advancing to the National Championship game.
Prior to his time with the Bulldogs, Summers spent two years in nearby Statesboro as the Head Coach at Georgia Southern. In his first season as the Head Coach of the Eagles, the team saw seven players tabbed as all-conference members. That included placekicker Younghoe Koo, who was named a Third Team All-American and finalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Summers earned the promotion to head coach at Georgia Southern after spending the 2015 season at Colorado State as the Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach. The Rams’ defense made impressive strides defensively under Summers’ tutelage, improving from 32nd to ninth nationally in passing defense and 114th to 21st in tackles for loss.
Before being hired at Colorado State, Summers was at UCF from 2012-14, with the Knights posting a 31-9 record during his time there. Summers served as the Linebackers Coach in 2012 and 2013 before being named the Defensive Coordinator heading into the 2014 campaign. In his first year coordinating a defense, Summers saw the Knights emerge as the top defense in the American Athletic Conference, and one that ranked in the top 10 among FBS schools in total defense (5th – 298.5 yards per game), rushing defense (6th – 104.3 yards per game), redzone defense (6th – 71.4%) and scoring defense (9th – 19.2 point per game).
Summers joined the UCF staff after coaching at UAB from 2007-11, where his time coincided with Helton, who was in Birmingham from 2007-12. Summers served as the Linebackers Coach during his first four years at UAB before transitioning to the Safeties Coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator during his final season with the squad.
Prior to his time at UAB, Summers spent short stints in the college coaching ranks at Georgia Southern (2006 – Safeties Coach), Georgia (2005 – Graduate Assistant), Troy (2004 – Graduate Assistant) and Presbyterian (2003 – Defensive Backs Coach).
Summers graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Presbyterian College, where he also lettered four times on the football team from 1998-2001 while earning All-South Atlantic Conference honors as a sophomore and serving as team captain his senior year.
Summers is married to the former Beth King, and the couple has three sons, Jake, Walker and Anderson.
