Hokie ClubThe Spencer File
Virginia Tech XP: First season
Coaching XP: 31st season
Hometown: Hartford, Conn.
High School: Bulkeley High School (Conn.)
Alma Mater: Clarion University (1995)
Playing XP: Safety at Clarion (1992-94)
Family: Daughter - Alysia
| COACHING TIMELINE | ||
| Seasons | Organization / School | Title |
| 2026-pres. | Virginia Tech | Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line |
| 2024-25 | Texas A&M | Defensive Line |
| 2022-23 | Florida | Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line |
| 2020-21 | NFL - New York (NFC) | Pass Rush Coordinator / Defensive Line |
| 2018-19 | Penn State | Associate Head Coach / Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line |
| 2014-17 | Penn State | Defensive Line |
| 2011-13 | Vanderbilt | Defensive Line |
| 2009-10 | Bowling Green | Defensive Line |
| 2007-08 | Massachusetts | Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Line |
| 2006 | Hofstra | Defensive Line |
| 2005 | Villanova | Linebackers |
| 2004 | Holy Cross | Defensive Line |
| 2001-03 | Massachusetts | Defensive Line |
| 1998-2000 | Trinity College | Passing Game Coordinator / Defensive Line / Running Backs |
| 1996-97 | Shippensburg | Running Backs |
| 1995 | Wesleyan | Tight Ends / Wide Receivers |
| POSTSEASON GAMES (15) | ||
| Seasons | Organization / School | Game |
| 2025 | Texas A&M | CFP First Round |
| 2024 | Texas A&M | Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2022 | Florida | Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2019 | Penn State | Cotton Bowl Classic |
| 2019 | Penn State | Citrus Bowl |
| 2017 | Penn State | Fiesta Bowl |
| 2017 | Penn State | Rose Bowl Game |
| 2016 | Penn State | TaxSlayer Bowl |
| 2014 | Penn State | Pinstripe Bowl |
| 2014 | Vanderbilt | BBVA Compass Bowl |
| 2012 | Vanderbilt | Music City Bowl |
| 2011 | Vanderbilt | Liberty Bowl |
| 2009 | Bowling Green | Humanitarian Bowl |
| 2007 | Massachusetts | FCS Quarterfinals |
| 2003 | Massachusetts | FCS First Round |
| PROMINENT NFL PUPILS | ||
| Position | Name | Accolade |
| DL | Shemar Stewart | 2025 NFL Draft, First Round (Cincinnati) |
| DL | Nic Scourton | 2025 NFL Draft, Second Round (Carolina) |
| DL | Shemar Turner | 2025 NFL Draft, Second Round (Chicago) |
| DL | Gervon Dexter Sr. | 2023 NFL Draft, Second Round (Chicago) |
| LB | Odafe Oweh | 2021 NFL Draft, First Round (Baltimore) |
| DL | Shaka Toney | 2021 NFL (New York [NFC]) |
| DL | Dexter Lawrence | 2020-21 NFL (New York [NFC]) |
| DL | Leonard Williams | 2020-21 NFL (New York [NFC]) |
| DL | B.J. Hill | 2020 NFL (New York [NFC]) |
| DL | Dalvin Tomlinson | 2020 NFL (New York [NFC]) |
| DL | Yetur Gross-Matos | 2020 NFL Draft, Second Round (Carolina) |
| DL | Robert Windsor | 2020 NFL Draft, Sixth Round (Indianapolis) |
| DL | Shareef Miller | 2019 NFL Draft, Fourth Round (Philadelphia) |
| DL | Kevin Givens | 2019 NFL Free Agent (San Francisco) |
| DL | Austin Johnson | 2016 NFL Draft, Second Round (Tennessee) |
| DL | Stephen Weatherly | 2016 NFL Draft, Seventh Round (Minnesota) |
| DL | Carl Nassib | 2016 NFL Draft, Third Round (Cleveland) |
| DL | Anthony Zettel | 2016 NFL Draft, Sixth Round (Detroit) |
| DL | Chris Jones | 2013 NFL Draft, Sixth Round (Houston) |
| LB | Tim Fugger | 2012 NFL Draft, Seventh Round (Indianapolis) |
Coaching Highlights
• Spencer arrived in Blacksburg in 2026 with over 25 years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels, highlighted by 15 bowl and playoff appearances. He served as the defensive line coach at Texas A&M for two seasons prior to joining the Hokies.
• During the 2025 season, Spencer helped the Aggies reach the College Football Playoff with an 11-1 record, finishing second in the SEC and the nation in sacks (43) and sacks per game (3.31).
• The Aggies ranked third nationally in tackles for loss (110) and tied for second in TFLs per game (8.5).
• Spencer helped lead the Aggies to a ranking of 18th nationally in total defense in 2025, allowing just 307.4 yards per game.
• Under Spencer’s direction, defensive end Cashius Howell was named a consensus All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Howell ranked fourth in the nation in sacks during the 2025 season with 11.5.
• In 2024, Spencer helped guide the Aggies to an 8-5 record, including a program-best 5-0 start to SEC play, and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl.
• Texas A&M ranked among the top-35 nationally in tackles for loss (92.0) and scoring defense (22.2 ppg), while standing in the top-three in the SEC with 76 passes defended on the year.
• Three Aggie defensive linemen were selected in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, including first round selection Shemar Stewart, along with All-SEC and Walter Camp All-America Second Team honoree Nic Scourton and four-year letterman Shemar Turner. During his two seasons in College Station, Spencer mentored all three players to All-SEC honors, while Scourton and Howell earned All-American honors.
• Spencer served as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for two seasons at Florida following stints at Penn State, Vanderbilt, and with the New York Giants prior to his time at Texas A&M.
• During his first year at Florida, Spencer coached and mentored defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr., a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dexter started every game for the Gators in 2022, finishing the season with 55 tackles, 4.0 TFL and four quarterback hurries.
• Spencer’s unit contributed to a Florida defense that produced 22 takeaways during the 2022 season, ranking first in the SEC. Those takeaways factored into a turnover margin (8) that ranked eighth in the nation.
• Prior to his time with the Gators, Spencer spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as the defensive line coach and pass rush coordinator for the New York Giants. He made an immediate impact with the Giants in his first season as the defensive front registered 40 sacks.
• The line helped the defense put up some of its best numbers since the 2016 season, ranking 12th in the NFL allowing 349.3 yards per game in 2020 and finishing 10th in rushing defense giving up 111.4 yards per game.
• Before moving to the NFL, Spencer spent six years at Penn State where he was the defensive line coach for four seasons and was later promoted to associate head coach and run game coordinator ahead of the 2018 season.
• The Nittany Lions finished in the top-10 of the AP Poll in three of his last four seasons, winning a Big Ten title in 2016 and earning New Year’s 6 Bowl berths in 2016 (Rose), 2017 (Fiesta) and 2019 (Cotton).
• The Nittany Lions’ line was one of the best in the nation under Spencer. In 2019, Penn State had 45.0 sacks, the seventh-highest total in the country and third-highest in the Big Ten.
• It was Penn State’s fifth consecutive season with at least 40.0 sacks, the first such streak for the Nittany Lions since team sacks were recorded in 1988. That season, Spencer’s linemen were also significant contributors to Penn State’s run defense, which finished first in the nation by allowing only 2.6 yards per carry.
• The Nittany Lions also finished fifth in the country and first in the conference in yards allowed per game with 95.0 in 2019.
• In 2015 and 2018, Penn State led the nation in sacks, with 50.0 and 47.0, respectively. In 2017, the line helped the defense finish in the top-25 in the FBS in scoring defense (7th; 16.5 ppg), sacks (7th; 3.2/g), rushing defense (14th; 118.0 ypg), total defense (17th; 329.5 ypg), takeaways (23rd; 25) and tackles for loss (25th; 7.2/g).
• The line played a pivotal role in Penn State’s Big Ten Championship in 2016, when the defense finished seventh in FBS in tackles for loss (8.1/g) and 19th in sacks (2.86/g).
• In 2015, the defensive line not only paced a unit that led the FBS in sacks (3.54/g) but was sixth in tackles for loss (8.2) and 14th in total defense (324.5).
• Spencer led a unit that in 2014 helped Penn State finish third in the FBS rushing defense (100.5) and second in total defense (278.7).
• Prior to Penn State, Spencer spent three seasons at Vanderbilt (2011-13), where he helped the Commodores finish in the top-25 in the nation in total defense all three years. Vanderbilt recorded 28.0, 31.0 and 28.0 sacks under Spencer, with the defensive line posting 42.5 tackles for loss in 2013.
• Spencer coached the Bowling Green defensive line in 2009-10 and had two stints at UMass, coaching the defensive front from 2001-03 and 2007-08. He also spent time at Hofstra (2006), Villanova (2005), Holy Cross (2004), Trinity College (1998-2000), Shippensburg (1996-97) and Wesleyan (1995).
Playing Highlights
• Spencer was a three-year starter at safety at Clarion (Pa.) University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1995.
• Spencer was named to the 1992 NCAA Division II Preseason All-America team by The Sporting News. In 1994, Spencer registered 101 tackles (62 solo), two interceptions and a forced fumble.