Vance Bedford

Who is Vance Bedford?

Vance Juano Bedford is an American football coach currently serving as defensive coordinator at the University of Texas for head coach Charlie Strong. He was previously the defensive coordinator at the University of Louisville, where he also served under head coach Charlie Strong. He had served as defensive back coach at the University of Florida under Urban Meyer. He previously served as defensive backs coach under Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan. He served in that same position for six seasons with the Chicago Bears, and also served two seasons as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University-Stillwater.

Bedford was born in Beaumont, Texas. He played high school football at Hebert High School for his legendary father Leon Bedford where he was an all-District player on the first all-black high school to win a University Interscholastic League state title in Texas.

He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin where he was a four-year letterman and starter at cornerback as well as the defensive captain. He was a two-time All-Southwest Conference second team selection. He played in two Cotton Bowls and two Sun Bowls. He set a then-Longhorn season record for pass breakups with 22 in 1981 and is currently in the top ten on UT's career pass breakup list. At the end of his senior year, he was named a Defensive Valuable Player in the 1982 Senior Bowl All-Star Game. He returned to Texas to receive his diploma in 1984.