Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Football
Dreiling, Nate
Nate Dreiling
- Title:
- Inside Linebackers Coach
Nate Dreiling was hired as inside linebackers coach on Feb. 1, 2025.
Dreiling comes to Oklahoma from Arkansas State, where he was hired Jan. 3 as defensive coordinator after spending a season at Utah State as defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
Dreiling brings 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, including five as a defensive coordinator. In addition to his season at Utah State, he coordinated defenses at New Mexico State (2022-23) and Pittsburg State (2018-19). He was elevated to interim head coach at Utah State on July 2 and guided the Aggies to a strong finish with wins in three of their last four Mountain West Conference games. Throughout last season he continued to serve as defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach. Utah State ranked among the top 50 nationally in sacks (2.33 per game; 44th) and interceptions (13; 36th), and eight players earned All-Mountain West honors.
Prior to Utah State, Dreiling spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State. He helped guide the Aggies to a 17-11 overall record and consecutive bowl games, along with an appearance in the 2023 Conference USA championship game in their first year in the league. The NMSU defense ranked 44th nationally in scoring defense (22.4 points per game), 48th in rushing defense (143.7 rushing yards per game) and fifth in red zone defense (72.6%). In Dreiling’s first season at New Mexico State, the Aggies improved from 127th to 29th nationally in total defense (336.3 yards per game allowed in ’22) and ranked 16th in passing defense (186.8 yards per game).
Dreiling previously served as a defensive analyst on Mario Cristobal’s staff at Oregon for the 2020 season. The Ducks won the Pac-12 title and played in the Fiesta Bowl, and hauled in the sixth-ranked recruiting class during the 2021 cycle.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Dreiling spent three seasons coaching at his alma mater, Pittsburg State. He coached the safeties in 2017 and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2018 and ’19 seasons. In his first season at Pittsburg State, he helped the Gorillas rank 25th nationally with 25 takeaways and 19th with 12 fumble recoveries. In his two seasons as Pittsburg State defensive coordinator, the Gorillas ranked among the top two in the Ohio Valley Conference in 11 statistical categories in 2018 and ’19, and 17 players garnered all-conference honors.
Dreiling was a four-time All-American at Pittsburg State (2010-13) and led the Gorillas to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2011, the same year he was named the national defensive player of the year by the Don Hansen Football Committee and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with a school- and MIAA-record 491 tackles and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2013.
Dreiling earned his bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State in 2013. He and his wife, Alexa, have two daughters (Baylor and Baisley) and a son (Baker).
Dreiling comes to Oklahoma from Arkansas State, where he was hired Jan. 3 as defensive coordinator after spending a season at Utah State as defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
Dreiling brings 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, including five as a defensive coordinator. In addition to his season at Utah State, he coordinated defenses at New Mexico State (2022-23) and Pittsburg State (2018-19). He was elevated to interim head coach at Utah State on July 2 and guided the Aggies to a strong finish with wins in three of their last four Mountain West Conference games. Throughout last season he continued to serve as defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach. Utah State ranked among the top 50 nationally in sacks (2.33 per game; 44th) and interceptions (13; 36th), and eight players earned All-Mountain West honors.
Prior to Utah State, Dreiling spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State. He helped guide the Aggies to a 17-11 overall record and consecutive bowl games, along with an appearance in the 2023 Conference USA championship game in their first year in the league. The NMSU defense ranked 44th nationally in scoring defense (22.4 points per game), 48th in rushing defense (143.7 rushing yards per game) and fifth in red zone defense (72.6%). In Dreiling’s first season at New Mexico State, the Aggies improved from 127th to 29th nationally in total defense (336.3 yards per game allowed in ’22) and ranked 16th in passing defense (186.8 yards per game).
Dreiling previously served as a defensive analyst on Mario Cristobal’s staff at Oregon for the 2020 season. The Ducks won the Pac-12 title and played in the Fiesta Bowl, and hauled in the sixth-ranked recruiting class during the 2021 cycle.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Dreiling spent three seasons coaching at his alma mater, Pittsburg State. He coached the safeties in 2017 and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2018 and ’19 seasons. In his first season at Pittsburg State, he helped the Gorillas rank 25th nationally with 25 takeaways and 19th with 12 fumble recoveries. In his two seasons as Pittsburg State defensive coordinator, the Gorillas ranked among the top two in the Ohio Valley Conference in 11 statistical categories in 2018 and ’19, and 17 players garnered all-conference honors.
Dreiling was a four-time All-American at Pittsburg State (2010-13) and led the Gorillas to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2011, the same year he was named the national defensive player of the year by the Don Hansen Football Committee and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with a school- and MIAA-record 491 tackles and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2013.
Dreiling earned his bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State in 2013. He and his wife, Alexa, have two daughters (Baylor and Baisley) and a son (Baker).
Oklahoma Press Conference - 9/9/25
Tuesday, September 09
Sooner Sports Talk - 9/8/25
Monday, September 08
Sooner Football With Brent Venables - 9/7/25
Sunday, September 07
FB Highlights: OU 24, Michigan 13
Saturday, September 06
