BUIES CREEK – After serving as Campbell’s defensive coordinator for the last two seasons, Weston Glaser has been elevated to assistant head coach, announced today by head coach Mike Minter.
Under his new title, Glaser will continue to coordinate the CU defensive unit, while also coaching safeties.
“Leadership is about being able to get people on the same page and move in the same direction, and Coach Glaser is someone who’s able to do just that, bringing people together,” said Minter. “He’s organized, studious and thoughtful, and can deal with things coming his way and get back to center, something very important in a head coach, which is the next step in his career. Our defense is getting better and better every year with him leading the way because he unlocks the greatness in people, which is what we strive to do as a staff every day. Coach Glaser has done everything I’ve envisioned him doing up to this point.”
Glaser joined the CU staff prior to the 2018 season as linebackers coach, and was named interim defensive coordinator for the Camels’ final three games of the year. Following the 2018 season, Glaser was named Campbell’s defensive coordinator.
Despite playing all FBS opponents in an abbreviated, four-game 2020 slate, the Camels owned the No. 2 pass defense among FCS programs.
Prior to the 2020 season, three Camels were named Preseason All-Big South, including returning First Team All-Big South performers Justice Galloway-Velazquez and Darion Slade, as well as 2019 second team all-conference defensive end Brevin Allen were all named to the preseason team.
Glaser completed his first full season as Campbell’s defensive coordinator in 2019, guiding the Camels to the Big South’s top pass defense for the second consecutive season. The trio of Galloway-Velazquez at linebacker, Slade at defensive back and Allen on the defensive line, plus pass rusher Samien Dozier were all named All-Big South.
Galloway-Velazquez set a Campbell single-season record for total tackles with 111 on the way to an honorable mention HERO Sports America nod, while Slade tallied 9.5 stops per game in Big South play, tops among league defensive backs. Allen and Dozier, meanwhile, bookended the CU defensive line, combining for 16.5 tackles for loss.
Following the 2019 season, Glaser was selected to the American Football Coaches’ Association’s 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
Campbell finished 2018 at 6-5 overall and 1-4 in its inaugural Big South season. With six wins, the Camels secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in the program’s modern era (since 2008), and tied an overall program record for victories.
The defense led the FCS in fewest passing yards allowed, surrendering just 122.5 per game, posting the seventh best pass efficiency defense (103.27). The Camels also ranked 15th in red zone defense (.724), 25th in scoring defense (22.0 points per game) and 25th in total defense (335.4 yards per game).
Glaser coached two of Campbell’s seven All-Big South picks in 2018, including middle linebacker Jack Ryan, who finished his career as the Camels’ all-time leader in tackles (321) and stops for loss (36.5), adding 9.5 sacks. Ryan was named Second Team All-Big South as a senior, ranking fourth in the league in tackles (89) and TFLs (8.5), while standing third in sacks (3.5). Ryan was named STATS FCS and Big South Defensive Player of the Week (10/1) after posting a season-high 15 tackles, 3.0 stops for loss and a sack in a win over North Alabama.
Damien Dozier was also named Second Team All-Big South, with the defensive end leading the conference in tackles for loss with 11.5. Dozier and Ryan helped hold Campbell opponents without an offensive TD four times in 2018, and without a first half touchdown six times.
With Glaser guiding the defense, the Camels picked up their first Big South win at Presbyterian, 34-6, holding the Blue Hose to just 12 passing yards, a Campbell single-game record, and only 176 yards of total offense. The Blue Hose completed 4-of-20 passes with an interception through the air, while running for 164 yards and a touchdown.
He spent the 2018 spring as defensive coordinator at Howard Payne University after serving as a defensive quality control coach at Texas A&M working with the defensive backs. The Aggie secondary in 2016 featured All-SEC strong safety Justin Evans who was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. Evans went on to be a second round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Glaser also brings experience from the NFL level, working for the Cleveland Browns scouting department from 2014-15.
The Waco, Texas native also made a stop at UTEP from 2013-15, beginning as a defensive graduate assistant before being elevated to assistant coach. During his time in El Paso, Glaser worked with the Miners’ linebackers and defensive backs.
Glaser started his coaching career at his alma mater, Sam Houston State, where he played quarterback from 2008-09. With Glaser on staff from 2010-13, the Bearkats posted a 31-10 overall record with two Southland Conference championships and back-to-back FCS National Championship game appearances.
He was an assistant defensive secondary coach and video coordinator from 2012-13 and defensive backs assistant from 2010-12, mentoring defensive backs who earned All-Southland honors a total of 15 times. In 2012, Sam Houston led the Southland in rushing defense, total defense and pass efficiency defense and ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense.
The 2011 SHSU defense finished number one in the nation in several categories, while the Bearkats notched a 14-1 overall mark, including a conference title and the first of consecutive national championship game appearances.
Glaser also worked as an assistant pit crew coach for Hendrick Motorsports of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series from August 2014-January 2015, working with the pit crews for Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Glaser earned his degree from Sam Houston State in 2012 with a major in history with a minor in education. Weston and his wife, Laura, have two sons, Deacon and Brooks.
The Camels are scheduled to begin the 2021 season at Liberty on September 4, making its 2021 home debut on September 11 against Elon, 665 days since last hosting a football game at Barker-Lane Stadium (vs. No. 15 Monmouth, November 16, 2019).
