Brad Wilson joined the Auburn football staff in December 2025. He currently serves as a defensive assistant coach.
Wilson comes to the Plains after most recently serving as the linebackers coach for head coach Alex Golesh at USF in 2025.
He previously spent eight years (2017-24) as the defensive coordinator at Indiana State, adding the title of assistant head coach for his final two seasons with the Sycamores.
In his lone season at USF, Wilson helped lead the Bulls defense that ranked fourth in the conference in rushing defense and held the opponent under 150 rushing yards in nine of 12 contests. He mentored two All-AAC linebackers in Mac Harris (first team), who turned in the 17th 100-tackle season in program history, and Jhalyn Shuler (second team). The duo combined for 195 tackles, including 13.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, and had a hand in 11 turnovers. As a defensive unit, the Bulls finished the regular season ranked seventh in the country in turnovers gained (24).
Prior to joining Golesh at USF, Wilson served as the defensive coordinator at Indiana State from 2017-24. He helped orchestrate a seven-win turnaround from 2017 to 2018, tying for the second most wins (seven) in a single season since 1984, as his defense allowed nearly 17 fewer points per game from one year to the next.
In his third season with the program, Wilson took a defense thank ranked among the worst in FCS in total defense and scoring defense and led the unit to top 30 marks in both categories in 2019 – 22nd in total defense (338.3), 30th in scoring defense (22.8).
Under his tutelage in Terre Haute, Indiana State defenders earned a total of 20 all-conference honors and two were named All-Americans. Three of his linebackers finished their careers in the program’s 300-tackle club, a list that includes only 19 players in the program’s history.
Wilson first held the role of defensive coordinate at Wayne State (2012-16). He spent the previous four seasons (2008-2011) as the secondary coach at his alma mater, Ashland University, where he also served as a student assistant (2005-06). After earning his bachelor’s degree in education, he was also a defensive graduate assistant at Bowling Green for one season (2007).
He and his wife, Amber, have three children: Brady, Logan and Rylie.
COACHING HISTORY
2005-06: Ashland, Student Assistant/Defensive Backs
2007: Bowling Green, Graduate Assistant
2008-11: Ashland, Secondary
2012-16: Wayne State, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
2017-22: Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2023-24: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2025: USF, Defensive Assistant/Linebackers
2026: Auburn, Assistant Coach/Defense