MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 26: The Big 12 logo on the yardage marker during the game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Maryland Terrapins at Mountaineer Field on September 26, 2015 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)

Former Big 12 defensive coordinator finds home at surprising school

That seems like a step down.

Glenn Spencer, formerly a defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, has joined the Charlotte 49ers.

Charlotte released a statement expressing how giddy it is over the hiring.

"We're excited to bring Glenn into our program," head coach Brad Lambert said in a statement. "I've been impressed with the job he's done over the years. He's coached defense at a high level and has had a lot of success. He brings many years of experience along with an exciting, aggressive mentality to our program. From a recruiting standpoint, he's from Georgia and he played and coached in Georgia and North Carolina so that's a good fit as well. We're fortunate to have the opportunity to bring him on staff. He's a good man and a good football coach."

Spencer will be the program's defensive coordinator and will coach the linebackers.

Spencer arrived in Stillwater in 2008 and initially coached the defensive line for the Cowboys. Eventually, he shifted to linebackers coach in 2009, and was ultimately promoted to solo defensive coordinator in 2013.  He had served as co-coordinator in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Here is Spencer's part of the statement:

"Fundamentally we want to be sound: leveraging the football, getting off blocks and tackling and creating turnovers which was one thing we were known for out there," Spencer said in a statement. "What can we do on our side of the ball to win games? We want to dictate tempo and keep them off balance with pressure and maximize the talent that we have returning. What I enjoy about this game transcends more than tackling and getting off blocks. I enjoy being able to impact lives, to lead a room and lead a unit with the ultimate goal to win championships."

With that experience coaching big boy football, Spencer now takes over a Charlotte defense that placed 99th nationally in yards per play and 103rd in scoring en route to a 1-11 finish in 2017.

(H/T The Charlotte Observer)