Todd Orland was hired as South Alabama's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach ahead of the 2026 season.
Orlando, who most recently served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at South Florida, has been a defensive coordinator at the FBS level since 2005. Orlando has orchestrated elite defenses at blue blood programs like Texas and USC, and worked with Major Applewhite at Houston for two seasons when the duo served as the coordinators on their respective sides of the ball.
In his first season with USF, Orlando helped the Bulls finish 12th nationally in defensive takeaways with 24. They turned four of those takeaways into defensive touchdowns, which was eighth-best in the country. The Bulls also ranked seventh with 7.5 tackles for loss per game. Orlando helped the Bulls improve on that number in season two when they averaged 7.9 tackles for loss per game, good for sixth in the country. USF was again a top-25 defense in takeaways with 25, good for 13th best in college football. Season three was no different with the Bulls once again producing 25 takeaways in 2025.
An aggressive unit that produces takeaways has been the identity of Orlando-led defenses, and that is what he orchestrated at Florida Atlantic. In 2021, the Owls ranked 25th in the nation by producing 21 turnovers, 28th with 12 interceptions and third with three defensive touchdowns.
Prior to making the cross-country trek to Florida, Orlando served as defensive coordinator at USC during the 2020 college football season. Despite the shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Orlando’s defense forced 16 turnovers in just six games. USC’s defense had only produced 16 takeaways the season prior during a full, 13-game schedule. Orlando also developed safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was a consensus All-American and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Before his one-year stint with the Trojans, Orlando was defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Texas from 2017-19. Through three seasons, the Longhorns forced a total of 65 turnovers, which was the best in the Big 12 Conference. The 2017 campaign saw Texas rank in the top-10 nationally in rushing defense, third down defense, fourth down defense, defensive touchdowns and interceptions for touchdowns. Orlando turned linebacker Malik Jefferson into the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, while safety DeShon Elliott was a unanimous All-American and Thorpe Award finalist.
In year two at Texas, Orlando’s Longhorns allowed only 131.4 rushing yards per game on the way to a 10-4 season and Sugar Bowl Championship. Defensive end Charles Omenihu earned Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors while safety Caden Sterns was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
While on staff with Applewhite in Houston, Orlando’s defense led the nation in takeaways in 2015 with 35 on the season. The Cougars also ranked 20th in scoring defense while holding 12 of 14 opponents under their season scoring average. UH also finished the season with the eighth-best rushing defense in college football. The strong defensive effort led the way to an American Athletic Conference Championship, and an appearance in the Peach Bowl where the Cougars defeated No. 9 Florida State. Houston finished the year at No. 8 in the AP Poll.
In 2016, Houston improved its rushing defense from eighth in the nation to fourth under Orlando’s leadership. The Cougars also finished the year 13th in total defense and 14th in sacks and tackles for loss. Orlando mentored defense tackle Ed Oliver who was a First Team All-American after ranking third in the nation with 23 tackles for loss. The Cougars finished the season 9-4 with wins over No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 3 Louisville.
Orlando spent two seasons at the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Utah State from 2013-14 where he led a pair of top-20 defenses. In 2013, the Aggies ranked in the top-20 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. The season culminated in a trip to the Poinsettia Bowl. A year later, Utah State finished top-20 nationally in scoring defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and tackles for loss. At season’s end, linebacker Zach Vigil was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and Utah State played in the New Mexico Bowl.
During his time at Florida International, Orlando helped the Golden Panthers’ defense improve drastically. FIU’s defense improved 51 spots nationally in scoring defense from 2010 and 31 spots in total defense. Orlando coached two All-Sun Belt Conference performers and helped lead the team to the 2011 Beef O’Brady’s Bowl.
The longest coaching stint of Orlando’s career took place at Connecticut where he was on staff for 12 seasons. Orlando’s first-six years at UConn were spent as inside linebackers coach. Then, in 2005, he added defensive coordinator to his title for the next-six seasons. In his first year as UConn’s defensive coordinator, Orlando led the Huskies to finish seventh nationally in total defense. They were in the national Top 20 in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense in 2007 and in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense in 2008. UConn won Big East Championships in 2007 and 2010, and made five bowl appearances during Orlando’s time with the program.
Orlando started his college coaching career at Penn in 1996 and spend three years with the Quakers as inside linebackers coach. He first began coaching in 1994 at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh as defensive coordinator. He then moved to Fox Chapel Area High School for one year before joining the college ranks.
Orlando was a three-year letter winner at Wisconsin as a linebacker. He helped guide the Badgers to the 1993 Big Ten Championship and subsequent Rose Bowl Championship over UCLA. He graduated from Wisconsin with his bachelor’s degree in 1994. He and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Taylor and Addison
THE TODD ORLANDO FILE
PERSONAL
Born: March 24, 1971
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn.
Education: Wisconsin, 1994
Wife: Amy
Children: Taylor and Addison
PLAYING CAREER
College: Wisconsin (Linebacker)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
1996-98: Penn (Inside Linebackers)
1999-04: UConn (Inside Linebackers)
2005-10: UConn (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2011-12: FIU (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2013-14: Utah State (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2015-16: Houston (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2017-19: Texas (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2020: USC (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2021-22: Florida Atlantic (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2023-25: South Florida (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
2026-present: South Alabama (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers)
