Eastern Michigan’s defensive turnaround hinges on new coordinators, healthy linebackers, tackling tweaks
The Eagles were among the worst in the MAC and country in total defense, and made some changes to the defensive staff ahead of 2026.
Ypsilanti — What plagued the Eastern Michigan in 2025 isn’t a secret: Defense and, more specifically, tackling.
The end product? The No. 111-ranked defense nationally, giving up more than 400 yards per game, with only Kent State and UMass ranked lower among MAC foes. The defensive struggles were a major cause to EMU’s final 4-8 record and subsequently head coach Chris Creighton made a change to the defensive staff, moving on from defensive coordinator Ben Needham and promoting Tate Omli and Kasey Teegardin to be co-defensive coordinators.
That staff change, along with some tweaks to how they plan to teach and rep tackling throughout spring practice and fall camp, has Creighton bullish about how the defense can turn around for 2026.
“But I do think that it will be a result not just of that,” Creighton said of an improved defense as a result of better tackling. “It will be that and it will be the familiarity and confidence in the defensive system and the fits.”
