ISU football coach Paul Rhoads announced the hiring of Maurice Linguist as the Cyclones’ secondary coach Feb. 19. Linguist replaces Troy Douglas, who accepted a position on the Pittsburgh coaching staff early last week.

Linguist joins the Iowa State coaching staff after serving as co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Buffalo for two seasons. Under his command, the Buffalo secondary was one of the best in the MAC conference.

“We are excited to have Maurice join our defensive staff as our secondary coach,” Rhoads said in a statement. “Maurice is a dynamic personality and immediately demonstrated to us he will enhance our recruiting ability and elevate our defensive staff room with his experience as co-defensive coordinator at Buffalo. The fact that he is a Dallas native and has Big 12 familiarity is a bonus.”

In his first season at Buffalo in 2012, Linguist’s secondary led the MAC in opponent pass percentage [55.4 percent] and was second in the conference in pass defense. The team’s starting cornerbacks, Najja Johnson and Cortney Lester, were first and second in the conference in interceptions.

Last season, Buffalo finished with an 8-5 record and was second in the MAC East with a 6-2 record. The defense was one of the best in the league, holding opponents to 24.4 points per game and 382.8 yards per game, both second in the MAC. 

Linguist’s defensive backs helped Buffalo finish second in the MAC in interceptions with 15.

He has experience coaching in the Big 12 as well. Linguist began his coaching career at his alma mater Baylor, coaching strong safeties and rover backs as a graduate assistant in 2007. As a senior at Baylor, he was the team’s defensive most valuable player as a strong safety, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection and an academic All-Big 12 honoree.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in sports management from Baylor.

Before coaching at Buffalo, he spent three years at James Madison coaching the safeties. He helped the Dukes to an 8-4 regular season record and an NCAA playoff appearance in 2011.

Linguist also served as defensive backs and special teams coach at Valdosta State in Georgia, helping the program to a 9-3 record and a ranking of No. 12 in Division II in 2008.