Bill D’Ottavio enters his 13th season as Samford’s defensive coordinator, and his 10th as assistant head coach.
D’Ottavio’s defenses have produced four National Football League Draft picks during his time at Samford, including the three highest NFL Draft picks in program history. Cornerback Corey White was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, while defensive lineman Nick Williams was taken in the seventh round of the 2013 draft. In 2015, safety Jaquiski Tartt became the highest NFL Draft pick in school history when the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the second round of the draft. The following season, cornerback James Bradberry was taken in the second round by the Carolina Panthers.
In addition to the drafted players, defensive lineman Michael Pierce signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, and has become a regular starter for the team.
In 2014, D’Ottavio’s defense led the nation in fewest passing yards allowed. The unit also led the Southern Conference and ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense.
D’Ottavio’s 2012 defense led the Southern Conference in interceptions with 14. The unit also produced Samford’s highest NFL Draft pick when Corey White was selected in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints.
In 2009, D’Ottavio’s defense ranked in the top 20 in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, sacks and tackles for a loss.
In his second season at Samford in 2008, D’Ottavio produced one of Samford’s strongest defenses. The Bulldogs led the Southern Conference in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, opponent first downs and turnover margin.
D’Ottavio came to Samford from Tulane where he served as the assistant head coach from 2004 to 2006. At Tulane University, he coached cornerbacks. In 2005, the Green Wave ranked first in Conference USA in pass defense.
D’Ottavio served on the coaching staff at the University of Central Florida
from 1999 to 2003. He coached linebackers while at UCF, and served as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2002 and 2003. In 2000, the UCF defense ranked sixth in the nation in sacks and tied for 10th in the nation in turnovers gained.
From 1997 to 1998, D’Ottavio served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at his alma mater, Millersville University in Millersville, Pa. He helped Millersville to a 15-5 record over those two seasons, and the team won the 1998 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division championship.
D’Ottavio worked at Middle Tennessee State University in 1995 and 1996. He coached the secondary and assisted with the special teams, specifically on kickoff coverage.
Prior to his time at Middle Tennessee, D’Ottavio served on the coaching staff at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1994. He coached the secondary from 1989 to 1992, and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1993. He coached the defensive line while coordinating the defense in 1993 and 1994. While at IUP, D’Ottavio helped lead the team to a 65-11-1 record, five appearances in the NCAA semifinals and two appearances in the NCAA finals.
D’Ottavio served as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh in 1987 and 1988, and he began his coaching career as a student assistant at Millersville in 1985, and he served the school as a graduate assistant in 1986. D’Ottavio, a native of Roxbury, N.J., is a 1986 graduate of Millersville University.
