Jeff Koonz Last College: Auburn Position: Linebackers Graduate College: Texas, 2006

Jeff Koonz enters his second year at Louisiana Tech after guiding the Bulldog linebacker corps with three of his players finishing the season in the top four on the team in tackles with Adrien Cole earning second team all-WAC honors.

He joined the Louisiana Tech family as the Bulldogs linebackers coach after serving as a defensive quality control assistant at Texas last season, helping lead the Longhorns to a Big 12 title and appearance in the BCS national championship game against Alabama.

"I am really excited to have Jeff [Koonz]] join our staff," said Dykes. "He comes very highly recommended and has worked under some great defensive-minded coaches like Gene Chizik and Will Muschamp. He brings a lot of knowledge and will be a tremendous asset to the program. He has great experience for a young coach, coming from top programs and learning from successful people."

Prior to his one-year stint at Texas, Koonz was the secondary coach at Iowa State for two seasons under Chizik while also assisting with special teams. Koonz's year as overseeing the defensive quality control at Texas was his second stint with the Longhorns having previously served as a graduate assistant coach in Austin during the 2005-06 seasons, coaching the linebackers.

"What a great opportunity this is to be a part of a wonderful program like Tech's," Koonz said. "Coach Dykes' reputation in the football profession is phenomenal and to be a part of what he is doing at Louisiana Tech is exciting."

Koonz was also a graduate assistant coach at Auburn during the 2004 campaign, coaching the secondary, and was a student assistant coach at Auburn for over a year.

Koonz graduated from Auburn in 2004 with a Bachelor's of science degree in physical education and received his master's degree in educational administration from Texas in 2006.

He married the former Maura McDermott in July 2011 and the couple currently resides in Choudrant.