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A successful veteran defensive coach, Fred Bleil is in his first season as Texas State's new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Bleil, 58, came to Texas State after coaching linebackers at Tulane in 2007, when the Green Wave led Conference-USA in rushing defense, allowing 132.6 yards per game, and finished fourth in total defensive yards allowed. Tulane also was second in first downs allowed and tied for third among C-USA teams in quarterback sacks.
At Texas State, Bleil will call in the defensive plays on game day and join co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Kyle Tietz in preparing the Bobcats' weekly defensive game plan.
Before going to Tulane, Bleil was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Texas in his second stint with the Mean Green. Bleil also spent two terms as the director of the Mean Green defense after leading one of the Big West's top units in 1997 and 1998. Under Bleil, North Texas finished in the top three in the conference in scoring defense in both years, and ranked second in the league in pass defense in 96. Two-time NFL Pro Bowler Brian Waters was an All-Big West selection for Bleil's Mean Green defense, as were three other North Texas players in that two-year span.
Between his times at North Texas, Bleil coached the secondary at San Diego State for eight seasons and the special teams for three. Under his direction, the Aztec secondary became a force in the Mountain West and across the nation. SDSU improved from 86th in the country in pass defense in 2002 to fourth in 2003. Aztec cornerbacks ranked first and second in the MWC in 2003 in passes defended and third for interceptions.
Bleil was also the defensive coordinator at New Mexico from 1992 to 1995. In four seasons with the Lobos, Bleil helped improve the defense from one of the worst in the nation to one of the best in the WAC.
Bleil served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Utah State from 1986-91, and was the head coach at New Mexico Highlands from 1979 to 1982. He earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors when he led Highlands to the 1981 conference crown. He also was named the AFCA College Division Coach of the Year.
He played football at Northern Iowa in 1967 and went on to earn his degree at Westmar College in 1971. Bleil then added a master's degree to his resume in 1972 from Eastern New Mexico.
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