Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football
Skyler Cassity
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
Skyler Cassity was hired as Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator in December of 2025.
He worked in the same role under Eric Morris at North Texas in 2025, and the 2026 season marks his fifth season as a college defensive coordinator. He also served in the role for Abilene Christian from 2022-23 and at Sam Houston in 2024.
In his first year at UNT in 2025, Cassity helped improve the Mean Green by nearly 10 points per game in scoring defense, by 90 yards per game in total defense and by more than 100 yards per game in passing defense. His 2025 unit ranked among the top 25 in the FBS in fumbles recovered (No. 3), turnovers gained (No. 4), passing yards allowed (No. 8), passes intercepted (No. 14) and passing efficiency defense (No. 14).
Cassity went to UNT after spending the 2024 season in the same role at Sam Houston, guiding the Bearkats to the 22nd-ranked defense in FBS. Under his watch in 2024, the Bearkats finished the year 10-3 and earned the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.
As an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks, Cassity led a Sam Houston pass defense that ranked 13th in the country while forcing 27 turnovers to mark the seventh-most in the FBS in 2024. The Bearkats were one of only eight Group of 5 teams to give up 21.0 points per game or less on the year.
Upon his arrival at Sam Houston, Cassity inherited a defense from a 3-9 team, which he immediately helped turn into a 9-3 team for 2024. The program became bowl eligible for the first time, narrowly missing out on a berth in the CUSA championship game.
Cassity quickly upgraded Sam Houston’s defense in his one year on staff. The Bearkats’ scoring defense ranked 64th in FBS in 2023 and jumped to the No. 21 scoring defense in 2024. Sam Houston also improved from 88th to 22nd in total defense, 92nd to 57th in rushing defense and 77th to 13th in passing defense. In CUSA, Cassity’s defense was top five in nearly every category, while leading the conference in scoring defense and interceptions.
In 2024, the Sam Houston defense held eight of its 13 opponents under their season scoring average and held nine to 21 points or less. The Bearkats were even stronger defensively down the stretch, allowing just 15.3 points per game over the final six contests.
Prior to Sam Houston, Cassity spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as Abilene Christian’s defensive coordinator. In 2023, two major publications highlighted Cassity’s success and bright future: 247 Sports named him to its “30 Under 30” list, as did Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to its “40 Under 40” list.
At ACU, he helped the Wildcats post a dozen wins in two seasons to mark its most in a two-year period since the program moved to Division I. While there he coached four all-conference selections and his defense held 14 of its 19 FCS opponents under their season scoring averages. His unti was a top 35 Massey-rated defense each year.
In 2022, he helped lead the Wildcats to a 7-4 record to mark the best for the program since it left the Division II ranks. That season his defense was one of the best in ACU's history and was near the top of the Western Athletic Conference in multiple statistical categories. ACU ranked second in the league in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense. Additionally, the Wildcats ranked in the top 20 in the FCS in third-down defense, first downs allowed and rushing defense.
A year later, he helped lead Abilene Christian to five more victories while his defensive unit ranked second in the newly formed United Athletic Conference and 23rd in the FCS with 12 interceptions. The Wildcats also ranked 29th in the FCS in defensive touchdowns and 27th in fourth-down defense.
Cassity’s stint at ACU came after spending two seasons coaching outside linebackers, nickels and safeties under head coach Bobby Petrino at Missouri State. The Bears' defense finished the 2021 season ranked sixth nationally in turnovers forced, 11th in interceptions and 11th in defensive touchdowns while making their second consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs, snapping a 30-year playoff drought for the program.
No stranger to the state of Texas, Cassity also served as a graduate assistant at both Texas Tech (2018-19) and Texas State (2017) prior to his time at ACU.
While working on his master’s degree in sports management at Texas Tech, Cassity was an outside linebackers analyst and defensive graduate assistant for the Red Raiders’ 2017 and 2018 seasons under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, plus the 2019 season under head coach Matt Wells.
For the 2016 season, Cassity coached at Texas State as the primary defensive graduate assistant under head coach Everett Withers. The Bobcats boasted the top recruiting class in 2017 the Sun Belt Conference.
Cassity attended Auburn for his undergrad degree from 2012-16, earning his business administration degree in 2016. He played lacrosse while also growing his football coaching and recruiting experience with the Tiger football team after head coach Gus Malzahn and Casey Woods hired him in February of 2014.
While in high school at Riverwood International Charter School in Atlanta, Cassity was a quarterback for the Raiders under head coach Robert Ingram. Cassity’s football playing career was cut short in 2010 due to career-ending chest surgery to correct his pectus excavatum via the Nuss Procedure. Ingram, still a mentor today, immediately elevated the young Cassity to a student assistant to kick off his coaching career.
Cassity is the son of longtime college coach Mike Cassity, who lettered for Kentucky football and wrestling (1971-76) and spent 40 years on the sidelines, including 22 years as a defensive coordinator at the Division I level at Louisville, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, ULM and Western Kentucky.
A football family, Cassity has two brothers who played college football as Hunter played safety at Samford and Braden was a defensive end, tight end and fullback at Oklahoma State.
Cassity is married to nee Kori Peek, who grew up in Lubbock. The couple met while both attending Texas Tech.
Coaching History
2014-16: Auburn, student assistant
2016: Texas State, graduate assistant
2017-19: Texas Tech, graduate assistant
2020-21: Missouri State, linebackers/nickels/safeties
2022-23: Abilene Christian, defensive coordinator
2024: Sam Houston, defensive coordinator
2025: North Texas, defensive coordinator
2026: Oklahoma State, defensive coordinator
He worked in the same role under Eric Morris at North Texas in 2025, and the 2026 season marks his fifth season as a college defensive coordinator. He also served in the role for Abilene Christian from 2022-23 and at Sam Houston in 2024.
In his first year at UNT in 2025, Cassity helped improve the Mean Green by nearly 10 points per game in scoring defense, by 90 yards per game in total defense and by more than 100 yards per game in passing defense. His 2025 unit ranked among the top 25 in the FBS in fumbles recovered (No. 3), turnovers gained (No. 4), passing yards allowed (No. 8), passes intercepted (No. 14) and passing efficiency defense (No. 14).
Cassity went to UNT after spending the 2024 season in the same role at Sam Houston, guiding the Bearkats to the 22nd-ranked defense in FBS. Under his watch in 2024, the Bearkats finished the year 10-3 and earned the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.
As an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks, Cassity led a Sam Houston pass defense that ranked 13th in the country while forcing 27 turnovers to mark the seventh-most in the FBS in 2024. The Bearkats were one of only eight Group of 5 teams to give up 21.0 points per game or less on the year.
Upon his arrival at Sam Houston, Cassity inherited a defense from a 3-9 team, which he immediately helped turn into a 9-3 team for 2024. The program became bowl eligible for the first time, narrowly missing out on a berth in the CUSA championship game.
Cassity quickly upgraded Sam Houston’s defense in his one year on staff. The Bearkats’ scoring defense ranked 64th in FBS in 2023 and jumped to the No. 21 scoring defense in 2024. Sam Houston also improved from 88th to 22nd in total defense, 92nd to 57th in rushing defense and 77th to 13th in passing defense. In CUSA, Cassity’s defense was top five in nearly every category, while leading the conference in scoring defense and interceptions.
In 2024, the Sam Houston defense held eight of its 13 opponents under their season scoring average and held nine to 21 points or less. The Bearkats were even stronger defensively down the stretch, allowing just 15.3 points per game over the final six contests.
Prior to Sam Houston, Cassity spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as Abilene Christian’s defensive coordinator. In 2023, two major publications highlighted Cassity’s success and bright future: 247 Sports named him to its “30 Under 30” list, as did Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to its “40 Under 40” list.
At ACU, he helped the Wildcats post a dozen wins in two seasons to mark its most in a two-year period since the program moved to Division I. While there he coached four all-conference selections and his defense held 14 of its 19 FCS opponents under their season scoring averages. His unti was a top 35 Massey-rated defense each year.
In 2022, he helped lead the Wildcats to a 7-4 record to mark the best for the program since it left the Division II ranks. That season his defense was one of the best in ACU's history and was near the top of the Western Athletic Conference in multiple statistical categories. ACU ranked second in the league in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense. Additionally, the Wildcats ranked in the top 20 in the FCS in third-down defense, first downs allowed and rushing defense.
A year later, he helped lead Abilene Christian to five more victories while his defensive unit ranked second in the newly formed United Athletic Conference and 23rd in the FCS with 12 interceptions. The Wildcats also ranked 29th in the FCS in defensive touchdowns and 27th in fourth-down defense.
Cassity’s stint at ACU came after spending two seasons coaching outside linebackers, nickels and safeties under head coach Bobby Petrino at Missouri State. The Bears' defense finished the 2021 season ranked sixth nationally in turnovers forced, 11th in interceptions and 11th in defensive touchdowns while making their second consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs, snapping a 30-year playoff drought for the program.
No stranger to the state of Texas, Cassity also served as a graduate assistant at both Texas Tech (2018-19) and Texas State (2017) prior to his time at ACU.
While working on his master’s degree in sports management at Texas Tech, Cassity was an outside linebackers analyst and defensive graduate assistant for the Red Raiders’ 2017 and 2018 seasons under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, plus the 2019 season under head coach Matt Wells.
For the 2016 season, Cassity coached at Texas State as the primary defensive graduate assistant under head coach Everett Withers. The Bobcats boasted the top recruiting class in 2017 the Sun Belt Conference.
Cassity attended Auburn for his undergrad degree from 2012-16, earning his business administration degree in 2016. He played lacrosse while also growing his football coaching and recruiting experience with the Tiger football team after head coach Gus Malzahn and Casey Woods hired him in February of 2014.
While in high school at Riverwood International Charter School in Atlanta, Cassity was a quarterback for the Raiders under head coach Robert Ingram. Cassity’s football playing career was cut short in 2010 due to career-ending chest surgery to correct his pectus excavatum via the Nuss Procedure. Ingram, still a mentor today, immediately elevated the young Cassity to a student assistant to kick off his coaching career.
Cassity is the son of longtime college coach Mike Cassity, who lettered for Kentucky football and wrestling (1971-76) and spent 40 years on the sidelines, including 22 years as a defensive coordinator at the Division I level at Louisville, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, ULM and Western Kentucky.
A football family, Cassity has two brothers who played college football as Hunter played safety at Samford and Braden was a defensive end, tight end and fullback at Oklahoma State.
Cassity is married to nee Kori Peek, who grew up in Lubbock. The couple met while both attending Texas Tech.
Coaching History
2014-16: Auburn, student assistant
2016: Texas State, graduate assistant
2017-19: Texas Tech, graduate assistant
2020-21: Missouri State, linebackers/nickels/safeties
2022-23: Abilene Christian, defensive coordinator
2024: Sam Houston, defensive coordinator
2025: North Texas, defensive coordinator
2026: Oklahoma State, defensive coordinator
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