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Vance Bedford Position: Defensive Coordinator Experience: 3rd season

Vance Bedford has solidified his name as one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation after two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals.

Entering his third season, Bedford has guided the Cardinals defense to consecutive top 25 finishes in total defense. Louisville finished 23rd in total defense this past season after ranking 14th in 2010.

In helping the Cardinals earn a share of the BIG EAST title this past year, Bedford's defense was 10th nationally against the run, 17th in scoring defense and 21st in sacks.

Bedford might have pulled together his best coaching job in the country in 2010, as the Cardinals ranked in the top 20 in several defensive categories. Louisville finished 14th in the country in total defense, 10th in pass defense and seventh in the country in sacks.

Bedford joined the Louisville staff after serving on the defensive staff at Florida for two seasons. Bedford coached the cornerbacks at Florida, and guided the Gators to a national title and a win over Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

Bedford has 19 years of coaching experience at schools in the BIG EAST, SEC, Big Ten, BIG 12, and also has six years of experience in the National Football League. In 2009, Bedford guided the Gators to a 13-1 record and a win over previously-undefeated Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. His secondary was one of the best in the nation, finishing seventh in the country in interceptions and second in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

Joe Haden, a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns, was a consensus All-American in 2009 and was also named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back. He was named the Sporting News Defensive MVP of the Year and first-team All-SEC by every outlet as a junior. Haden became the first true freshman to start at cornerback on opening day in UF history in 2007 and started all 40 games he played in. He finished his career with 218 tackles, eight interceptions and 3.5 sacks.

During the 2008 season, Bedford helped mold a unit of young Gator cornerbacks into one of he best in the country. Florida`s pass defense ranked as one of the worst in the country in 2007, finishing 98th in pass yardage defense and 101st in pass efficiency defense. The turnaround was spearheaded by Bedford, who stepped in during the spring of 2008 to lead a secondary that ranked third in pass efficiency defense and 20th in pass yardage defense. The group also tied the school record and led the nation with 26 interceptions on the season, returning five for a touchdown, tied for best in the country.

Bedford began his NFL coaching career as the defensive backs` coach for the Chicago Bears in 1999. He remained with the Bears until 2004, and during that time his secondary returned seven interceptions for touchdowns during a four-year stretch, equaling the team`s total from the previous nine seasons combined. While with Chicago, Bedford developed three young talents in Mike Brown, Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher.

His first tenure as the Michigan`s secondary coach was from 1995-98, when the Wolverines led the nation in pass defense in 1997 and ranked 20th in 1996. The Wolverines` 1997 national championship secondary set an NCAA record allowing just 8.8 yards per completion and finished fifth nationally by allowing just 133.8 passing yards per contest. His secondary in 1997 led the Big Ten and finished third nationally with 22 interceptions, and Charles Woodson became the only defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy. Prior to working at Michigan, he coached two seasons at Oklahoma State University in 1993 and 1994 and six seasons at Colorado State from 1987-92 as the defensive backs coach. tenure at CSU led to a trip to the 1991 Freedom Bowl and his 1990 secondary set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions.

A four-year letterman and starter at cornerback for the University of Texas from 1977-79 and also in 1981, A two-time All-Southwest Conference second team selection, Bedford played in the Cotton and Sun bowls twice during his career. He was selected captain of the 1981 team and earned Most Valuable Player honors in the 1982 Senior Bowl All-Star Game.

Bedford was selected in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played one season with the Cardinals and a year with the USFL`s Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984 before embarking on a coaching career.