A veteran coach with nearly 40 years of experience, Bob DeBesse is in his second season with Georgia Southern as the offensive coordinator and also serves as the quarterbacks coach. DeBesse came to Statesboro after a record-setting six-year run as the offensive coordinator at the University of New Mexico, where his rushing offense posted five straight top-10 national rankings in rushing yards per game, including the top attack in 2016.
In his first year as an Eagle, his offense saw marked improvement in all major categories as Georgia Southern won 10 games and the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. DeBesse’s offense set a new FBS record with the fewest turnovers in NCAA history (5) and fewest interceptions thrown in a season (0) and Wesley Fields surpassed 1,000 yard rushing in his final season. The Eagles posted the third-best improvement in the FBS in offensive yards per play from 2017 to 2018, as well.
In 2019, the Eagles again finished in the top 10 nationally in rushing yards per game and scored 38 offensive touchdowns despite starting seven different offensive line combinations due to injuries The offense also had 17 rushing plays of 30 yards or more, the most since 2015.
Under DeBesse’s watch, the 2016 Lobos set a school record for points (477) and scoring average, averaging 36.7 points per game, and also featured two 1,000 yard rushers for the first time in school history. In 2017, the Lobos’ again finished in the top 20 nationally in rushing offense, averaging over 230 yards per game on the ground.
In the 2015 season, the Lobos led the nation in total plays of 60 or more yards (11) and 70 or more yards (7). The Lobos added a deadly aerial attack as well and the team threw three touchdown passes of 80 or more yards in the final five games of the season. The Lobo rushing attack again finished in the top 10 nationally, led by Jhurell Pressley, who ended his career with the second-most rushing touchdowns in school history.
In the 2014 season, UNM once again finished in the top five in rushing nationally, averaging 310.4 yards per game. The Lobos were the only team in the nation to finish in the top five from 2012-14 with an average of 300 yards or more, and that was all under DeBesse. The Lobos were explosive as well, ranking in the top three nationally in most runs of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards for the season, and led the nation in most 50 and 60 yard rushes.
The 2013 offense’s 40 rushing touchdowns were two shy of the 1971 team record of 42. The unit also produced 5,062 yards, becoming just the sixth Lobo offensive unit to surpass the 5,000-yard mark. In 2012, the Lobos had the most improved rushing offense in the nation, going from 113.3 yards per game (ranking 103rd in rushing in ‘11) to 301.3 yards per game (ranking fifth in ‘12).
DeBesse went to New Mexico after a highly successful two-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Sam Houston State, which finished as national championship runner-up in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2011. The Bearkats averaged 36.9 points per game in 2011 with a 1,000-yard rusher in Tim Flanders (1,644 yards) and another one just shy of 1,000 yards in Richard Sincere (979 yards), as well as a 2,000-yard passer in quarterback Brian Bell (2,069 yards).
In his first season, DeBesse led the Kats to the top of the Southland Conference in rushing offense and had three players earn all-league honors. DeBesse served as receivers coach at Texas A&M from 2006-07. As wide receivers coach, DeBesse helped direct Texas A&M squads to the 2006 Holiday Bowl and the 2007 Alamo Bowl.
Purdue employed DeBesse as wide receivers coach from 2003-05, where he mentored Taylor Stubblefield. Stubblefield was a consensus All-America selection and Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2004, setting a then-NCAA record with 316 receptions. In 2003, Boilermakers WR John Standeford set Big Ten records for receptions (broken by Stubblefield) and receiving yards with 3,788.
Prior to his arrival at Purdue, DeBesse was the head coach at Southwest Texas State from 1997-2002. His 2000 team went 7-4, the best mark by the school in a decade, and had a No. 24 national ranking in the NCAA Division I-AA final poll.
DeBesse served as offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota from 1992-96. His units led the Big Ten in passing offense in 1992, 1993 and 1996 and led the Big Ten in passing offense in conference games in 1994 and ‘95.
Before coming to Minnesota, DeBesse spent nine years (1983-91) at TCU, the last two years as offensive coordinator. From 1988-90, he coached alongside Rocky Long and earned Southwest Conference Offensive Coordinator of the Year honors in 1990. As quarterbacks coach, DeBesse helped the Horned Frogs earn an invitation to the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1984.
DeBesse was a three-year letterman at Southwest Texas State (now fellow Sun Belt member Texas State) from 1978 to 1980. He was special teams captain and a Texas All-Academic team selection as a senior. DeBesse spent two years as a student assistant for SWT teams that won NCAA Division II national championships in 1981 and 1982. He was elected to the Southwest Texas State Hall of Honor in 1998.
Growing up in Texas, DeBesse earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Southwest Texas State in 1982. He and his wife Janet, a former Southwest Texas gymnast and cheerleader, have three children: Brittney, Kaila and Cameron. Cameron lettered as a wide receiver for the Lobos in 2012 and 2013.
