Hiring of defensive coordinator Ted Roof. After the firing of Al Groh and interim coordinator Charles Kelly’s jump to Florida State, coach Paul Johnson had an opening. At the same time, former Tech linebacker Ted Roof was ensconced at Penn State as the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator, but looking to return home. With the largest salary given to a Tech assistant (three years at $550,000 per year), Roof made the jump Jan. 9. The turnaround wasn’t complete, but Tech improved in scoring defense from a tie for 65th (28.3 points per game) to a tie for 29th (22.7).