Football Completes Defensive Coaching Staff
1.13.22 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple Football head coach Stan Drayton completed his initial staff with the announcement of five coaches to the defensive side of the ball. D.J. Eliott will lead the group as the Defensive Coordinator, Ola Adams has been hired as the Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach, Antoine Smith is the Defensive Line Coach, Chris Woods is the Linebackers Coach and Jules Montinar will be the Cornerbacks Coach.
"I'm really excited about the defensive staff," said Drayton. "They are all good teachers and excellent recruiters. As good as they are individually, in the short time that we have been together, I can already see that they will be even stronger together. That's what we are building here with both the coaches and players."
Eliot's pedigree includes coaching stops at Kansas (2019-20), Colorado (2017-18), Kentucky (2013-16), Florida State (2010-12), Rice (2007-09), Texas State (2003-04), Miami (2002), Houston (2000-01), and Wyoming (1999), as well as time with proven winners and program builders, Jimbo Fisher and Mark Stoops. Additionally, Eliot is among a select group of defensive thought-leaders that regularly clinic around the principles of the 3-4 defense.
"I'm excited about working for Coach Drayton, a guy that has so much experience at so many great programs," said Eliot. "He has the wisdom, experience, and talent to lead a team to a championship. I'm excited to work at Temple. It's a place that has always been known for its toughness and that's something that I want to be a part of."
Adams will not have to relocate. Before coming to Temple, he completed seven seasons at Villanova, the last three as the team's defensive coordinator and secondary coach. As a position coach, Adams has produced at least one all-conference performer in all but one year (2014) going back to the 2009 season. He has spent five seasons as a defensive coordinator at Cortland and Villanova, and in those five seasons has helped his teams tally a 45-18 record with four NCAA playoff appearances.
"I'm just excited to be here with Coach Drayton," said Adams. "I think he's a heck of a leader, and I'm just looking forward to supporting Coach Drayton in whatever he asks us to do. I think Temple has real big potential to win, so I'm excited to be here, and can't wait to get started!"
Most recently, Smtih was Colorado State's defensive line coach as part of former Temple coach Steve Addazio's initial Rams' staff. Smith was elevated to the role of assistant head coach in February 2021. During the 2021 season, Smith's defensive line led the Mountain West in sacks, averaging 3.25 per game, good for seventh best in the nation.
Previously, Smith was the defensive line coach at Texas State (2016), James Madison (2014-15), and Holy Cross (2011-13).
"This is a super exciting time and I'm really excited to build something special here," said Smith. "I'm looking to really lead the charge of this program with the defensive line unit. Get ready! We're getting ready to bring the noise."
Before coming to Temple, Woods coached at Kansas where he assisted Eliot at the linebacker position, and assisted the defensive staff in scouting, practice preparation and evaluation. Woods arrived at Kansas from the XFL, where he served as the defensive coordinator for Bob Stoops and the Dallas Renegades. He also had coaching stops at Texas State (2018), Oklahoma (2015-17), Columbia (2011), and Bryant College (2008-10). He served as head coach at Stonehill College (2005-07) and Mansfield (2002-04).
"I'm excited to get on board with Coach Drayton," said Woods. "I share his vision, 100%, and I'm real excited to get this program turned around the way that he wants to do it. Being a Northeast guy, it's always good to get back to your roots, so to be here in Philly, I'm real excited to get Temple TUFF going, get all in with these players, and get the program back to where it should be."
Montinar comes to Temple after one season at Florida where he coached a unit that ranked No. 1 in pass defense in SEC play. That group improved from a ninth place ranking in 2020. Prior to his time at Florida, the Naples, Fla., native coached at South Florida (2020), Georgia (2019), Texas State (2016-18), James Madison (2014-15), Alabama (2012-13), Purdue (2011), Lake Eric (2010), and eastern Kentucky (2008-09).
"I am so excited to be a member of Coach Drayton's staff," said Montinar. "Just a couple of years ago while at USF I had to prepare for a game against Temple so I know the talent level and how they stack up against the American Athletic Conference."
"I'm really excited about the defensive staff," said Drayton. "They are all good teachers and excellent recruiters. As good as they are individually, in the short time that we have been together, I can already see that they will be even stronger together. That's what we are building here with both the coaches and players."
Eliot's pedigree includes coaching stops at Kansas (2019-20), Colorado (2017-18), Kentucky (2013-16), Florida State (2010-12), Rice (2007-09), Texas State (2003-04), Miami (2002), Houston (2000-01), and Wyoming (1999), as well as time with proven winners and program builders, Jimbo Fisher and Mark Stoops. Additionally, Eliot is among a select group of defensive thought-leaders that regularly clinic around the principles of the 3-4 defense.
"I'm excited about working for Coach Drayton, a guy that has so much experience at so many great programs," said Eliot. "He has the wisdom, experience, and talent to lead a team to a championship. I'm excited to work at Temple. It's a place that has always been known for its toughness and that's something that I want to be a part of."
Adams will not have to relocate. Before coming to Temple, he completed seven seasons at Villanova, the last three as the team's defensive coordinator and secondary coach. As a position coach, Adams has produced at least one all-conference performer in all but one year (2014) going back to the 2009 season. He has spent five seasons as a defensive coordinator at Cortland and Villanova, and in those five seasons has helped his teams tally a 45-18 record with four NCAA playoff appearances.
"I'm just excited to be here with Coach Drayton," said Adams. "I think he's a heck of a leader, and I'm just looking forward to supporting Coach Drayton in whatever he asks us to do. I think Temple has real big potential to win, so I'm excited to be here, and can't wait to get started!"
Most recently, Smtih was Colorado State's defensive line coach as part of former Temple coach Steve Addazio's initial Rams' staff. Smith was elevated to the role of assistant head coach in February 2021. During the 2021 season, Smith's defensive line led the Mountain West in sacks, averaging 3.25 per game, good for seventh best in the nation.
Previously, Smith was the defensive line coach at Texas State (2016), James Madison (2014-15), and Holy Cross (2011-13).
"This is a super exciting time and I'm really excited to build something special here," said Smith. "I'm looking to really lead the charge of this program with the defensive line unit. Get ready! We're getting ready to bring the noise."
Before coming to Temple, Woods coached at Kansas where he assisted Eliot at the linebacker position, and assisted the defensive staff in scouting, practice preparation and evaluation. Woods arrived at Kansas from the XFL, where he served as the defensive coordinator for Bob Stoops and the Dallas Renegades. He also had coaching stops at Texas State (2018), Oklahoma (2015-17), Columbia (2011), and Bryant College (2008-10). He served as head coach at Stonehill College (2005-07) and Mansfield (2002-04).
"I'm excited to get on board with Coach Drayton," said Woods. "I share his vision, 100%, and I'm real excited to get this program turned around the way that he wants to do it. Being a Northeast guy, it's always good to get back to your roots, so to be here in Philly, I'm real excited to get Temple TUFF going, get all in with these players, and get the program back to where it should be."
Montinar comes to Temple after one season at Florida where he coached a unit that ranked No. 1 in pass defense in SEC play. That group improved from a ninth place ranking in 2020. Prior to his time at Florida, the Naples, Fla., native coached at South Florida (2020), Georgia (2019), Texas State (2016-18), James Madison (2014-15), Alabama (2012-13), Purdue (2011), Lake Eric (2010), and eastern Kentucky (2008-09).
"I am so excited to be a member of Coach Drayton's staff," said Montinar. "Just a couple of years ago while at USF I had to prepare for a game against Temple so I know the talent level and how they stack up against the American Athletic Conference."
