The NCAA approved in-helmet communication from coach to player for use across the FBS last year.
That’s fine with Shiel Wood, as long as he can delegate it to someone else.
The new defensive coordinator of the Texas Tech football team revealed on Thursday, Aug. 14, that safeties coach Rob Greene will be the one doing the communicating for his defense, and the strong safety — Brenden Jordan or one of his backups, Oliver Miles III or Peyton Morgan — will be the defensive player taking the call.
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“I feel very comfortable with it, because I don’t have to deal with it,” said Wood, who Tech hired in December from the University of Houston. “Last year, the opening game — all this stuff’s new to everybody — I tried to call the game and do the coach-to-player communication. Maybe some people can do that well, but not me.
“I’ve just got to think about getting us into the best call, and having it in, I think, a safety’s helmet is really good. Those guys have to do so much in terms of talking about formation adjustments and techniques that may change because of that. Also, the motions. I think that’s a good spot for us to have one those guys wearing the green dot.”
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The NCAA rule allows coach-to-player communication into the helmet of one player on the field from each team, designated by a green dot on the helmet. The devices are shut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or at the snap, whichever comes first.
Last year, Tech defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter did the in-helmet communication to linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley did it with quarterback Behren Morton. During preseason practice, new offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich has been working the in-helmet communication with Morton.
The NCAA tested in-helmet communication on an experimental basis during the 2023 bowl season. Tech and California players and coaches used the equipment during the Independence Bowl that year.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How Texas Tech football’s helmet communication plan is changing in ’25
