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It's not clear which other two coaches are finalists for the Louisville Cardinals head coaching job other than Bobby Petrino, but it appears that former defensive coordinator Vance Bedford is not one of them and will join new Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong in Austin, according to a report from Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman.
The interesting news is that Bohls added defensive back coach to his report, suggesting that longtime defensive back coach Duane Akina may be on his way out of the program for the second time in three years, this time not of his own volition.
In the article published by the Statesman, however, Bedford fulfilling those responsibilities as well didn't receive mention.
And mourning the end of the Akina era before it happens officially takes away from the homecoming of the lifetime Longhorn in Bedford, who played for Fred Akers on some of the most dominant defenses in school history and earned two All-SWC second-team selections as a cornerback.
In fact, he still has it, at least with his route-running skills after beating one of his players in practice (start from the :25 second mark) and then showing off his still-intact celebratory ability:
He can sell NFL experience after spending 1999 to 2004 with the Chicago Bears and has the trust of Strong after joining him at Florida following his unsuccessful tenure as Oklahoma State defensive coordinator. Bedford then followed Strong to Louisville in 2010.
Last season, the defense the two put together gave up only 12.2 points per game, allowed opponents to convert only 26.7% of their third down, finished No. 7 in S&P+, and No. 3 in defensive efficiency in the FEI and No. 6 in available yards.
The defenses put together over the last six seasons by those two have been really good.
And so to keep that good thing going, Bedford, a Beaumont native, is coming home to put together more stingy defenses with Charlie Strong, this time for his alma mater.
