Bateman heads to Kentucky, Hemphill bumped up to DC
The college football coaching carousel waits for no team, even ones in the College Football Playoff.
Texas A&M has seen some changes to its defensive coaching staff, with Defensive Coordinator Jay Bateman taking the same job at the University of Kentucky and Assistant Head Coach (Defense) Lyle Hemphill stepping in as the Aggies’ new DC Thursday.
Bateman, a native of Glen Allen, Va., is leaving College Station after two seasons working under Head Coach Mike Elko. He will assume defensive play-calling duties under new Head Coach Will Stein. Bateman called the defense for the Aggies in 2024, but Elko took on that role in 2025. Bateman did continue to play a key role in scheming the defense, working along with Hemphill in that capacity this season.
Bateman served as A&M’s linebacker coach for the past two years and helped lead to tangible improvement in the position group. Taurean York was named a third team All-SEC selection earlier this week and junior Daymion Sanford became one of the conferences most effective linebackers, tallying 50 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception after taking over as a starter for the injured Scooby Williams after the week 3 victory at Notre Dame.
Hemphill, who worked with Elko at Duke, has a reputation for coaching aggressive defenses that force turnovers. During his lone season as the defensive coordinator at James Madison in 2024, the Dukes were sixth in the FBS in sacks at 3.15 per game and forced 27 turnovers. Perhaps not coincidentally, Texas A&M led the nation in sacks and third down conversion defense and was second in tackles for loss in 2025.
