Marcel Yates Hired to Coach K-State’s Cornerbacks
Mar 24, 2026 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A 24-year college coaching veteran who has 12 years of coordinator experience, Marcel Yates has been hired to coach the Kansas State cornerbacks, head coach Collin Klein announced Tuesday.
A member of 17 bowl squads during his career, Yates most recently coached the secondary and served as the passing game coordinator at Texas Tech from 2022 through 2024.
"Marcel brings a lot of experience developing players at a high level," Klein said. "He was a character and integrity fit, and I am very excited to have him join our staff. He is a great relationship builder and teammate."
Yates, native of Los Angeles, California, spent six-straight years serving as a defensive coordinator, first at this alma mater, Boise State, in 2014 and 2015, and then at Arizona from 2016 through 2019.
"I am grateful to join the staff at Kansas State and be a part of a program with so much history and success," Yates said. "I am excited to work with Coach Klein and the staff of great coaches he has assembled."
Texas Tech had two of its best defensive seasons in recent history with Yates on staff as the Red Raiders allowed only 29.2 points per game in his debut season of 2022 before improving to 26.0 points per game average in 2023, its lowest mark since the 2009 season. The Red Raider secondary showed significant improvement under Yates' tutelage after surrendering only 256.8 passing yards per game in 2022, their lowest clip since 2014. That mark went further down in 2023 by allowing only 229.2 yards per game through the air.
Yates had six members from his position group garner All-Big 12 accolades during his tenure in Lubbock, which included Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who closed his career with 10 interceptions to tie for 10th in program history. He later heard his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft as the Arizona Cardinals selected the safety in the fourth round. Taylor-Demerson became the 11th defensive back during Yates' career to be chosen in the NFL Draft and the sixth to go in the first four rounds. Yates had three other defensive backs sign free agent contracts during his Texas Tech tenure in Marquis Waters (New York Jets), Rayshad Williams (Las Vegas Raiders) and Tyler Owens (Washington Commanders).
Yates worked those three seasons at Texas Tech – and the two previous seasons at California (2020) and Oregon (2021) – alongside current K-State assistant head coach for defensive Tim DeRuyter.
Yates went to Texas Tech from Oregon, helping the Ducks produce one of the nation's most opportunistic defenses in the country in 2021, especially in the secondary where Oregon recorded 17 interceptions. Oregon closed the season ranked fifth in the country for total interceptions and 26th nationally with 22 takeaways following an appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl and ranking 13th in the final College Football Playoff Top 25.
Oregon's success defending the pass continued a trend from Yates' season at Cal where the Golden Bears ranked 23rd nationally and second in the Pac-12 in passing yards allowed per game (197.8).
Yates' time at California came on the heels of spending four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Arizona from 2016 through 2019 where he worked with both the defensive backs and linebackers during various points of his tenure in Tucson. Arizona intercepted 19 passes in 2017 to tie for seventh nationally and rank as the most for the program since 1985, while the Wildcats forced 24 turnovers to tie for 23rd in the country. Redshirt freshman cornerback Lorenzo Burns picked off five passes – the second most nationally by a freshman – and junior corner Jace Whittaker added three picks for Yates' starting cornerback duo.
The 2017 season saw Yates coach one of the youngest defenses in the Pac-12 with his unit regularly starting five freshmen, including linebackers Tony Fields and Colin Schooler, along with rush end Kylan Wilborn. Each was a true freshman, with Fields finishing as the team's leading tackler with 104 stops – the most by any UA freshman in over 20 years – Schooler racking up 13.5 tackles for loss (all in conference play) – the most by a freshman at Arizona since at least 1997 – and Wilborn registering 7.5 sacks to lead all Power 5 freshmen.
All three players earned Freshman All-America honors in 2017, including Schooler, who was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Additionally, six of Yates' defenders earned All-Pac-12 honors during his four years with the Wildcats.
Prior to Arizona, Yates spent a combined 11 seasons at Boise State, rising from cornerbacks (2003-05) and defensive backs (2006-11) coach to eventually being named the defensive coordinator (2014-15). In between, Yates spent two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Texas A&M (2012-13).
Boise State won 87.6% of its games during Yates' tenure, compiling a 127-18 record with nine seasons of at least 10 wins, including a pair of undefeated campaigns. The Broncos qualified for a bowl game in each of Yates' 11 seasons on staff and claimed eight conference championships (7 WAC, 1 Mountain West). Boise State concluded both undefeated seasons with victories in the Fiesta Bowl, defeating No. 10 Oklahoma to wrap the 2006 campaign and then No. 4 TCU to end a memorable 2009 campaign.
Yates excelled in developing often overlooked prospects into successful college football players and eventual NFL selections while at Boise State. From 2007 to 2016 alone, seven of Yates' defensive backs heard their names called during the NFL Draft with two more signing free agent deals on their way to long professional careers. Of those seven draft picks, four were selected in the first three rounds, which was highlighted by cornerback Kyle Wilson being selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
During his two seasons at Texas A&M, the Aggies were among the best teams in the country, helping the Aggies earn a No. 5 national ranking in 2012 as they won 11 games for the first time in 14 years. Texas A&M followed that with a 9-4 campaign in 2013, again concluding that season in the top 25 (No. 18).
Yates began his coaching career as an assistant secondary coach at Montana State in 2001 and 2002. In his second season, the Bobcats won their first Big Sky Conference title and earned their first trip to the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) playoffs in 18 years.
Yates was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Boise State (1996-99), which coincided with the school's first four years as a FBS program. His career culminated in the Broncos' first-ever bowl appearance, a victory over Louisville in the 1999 Humanitarian Bowl.
Yates earned his undergraduate degree in social science from Boise State in 2000. He has a son, Eric, and a daughter, Kaybrie.
THE MARCEL YATES FILE
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
College: Boise State – Bachelor's degree in Social Science (2000)
Family: Children: Eric and Kaybrie
Playing Career: Boise State (defensive back), 1996-99
MARCEL YATES' COACHING CAREER
2001-02, Montana State (Assistant Defensive Backs Coach)
2003-05, Boise State (Cornerbacks)
2006-10, Boise State (Defensive Backs)
2011, Boise State (Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2012-13, Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2014-15, Boise State (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2016, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2018, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2019, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2020, California (Defensive Backs)
2021, Oregon (Passing Game Coordinator/Secondary)
2022-24, Texas Tech (Passing Game Coordinator/Secondary)
2026, K-State (Cornerbacks)
A member of 17 bowl squads during his career, Yates most recently coached the secondary and served as the passing game coordinator at Texas Tech from 2022 through 2024.
"Marcel brings a lot of experience developing players at a high level," Klein said. "He was a character and integrity fit, and I am very excited to have him join our staff. He is a great relationship builder and teammate."
Yates, native of Los Angeles, California, spent six-straight years serving as a defensive coordinator, first at this alma mater, Boise State, in 2014 and 2015, and then at Arizona from 2016 through 2019.
"I am grateful to join the staff at Kansas State and be a part of a program with so much history and success," Yates said. "I am excited to work with Coach Klein and the staff of great coaches he has assembled."
Texas Tech had two of its best defensive seasons in recent history with Yates on staff as the Red Raiders allowed only 29.2 points per game in his debut season of 2022 before improving to 26.0 points per game average in 2023, its lowest mark since the 2009 season. The Red Raider secondary showed significant improvement under Yates' tutelage after surrendering only 256.8 passing yards per game in 2022, their lowest clip since 2014. That mark went further down in 2023 by allowing only 229.2 yards per game through the air.
Yates had six members from his position group garner All-Big 12 accolades during his tenure in Lubbock, which included Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who closed his career with 10 interceptions to tie for 10th in program history. He later heard his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft as the Arizona Cardinals selected the safety in the fourth round. Taylor-Demerson became the 11th defensive back during Yates' career to be chosen in the NFL Draft and the sixth to go in the first four rounds. Yates had three other defensive backs sign free agent contracts during his Texas Tech tenure in Marquis Waters (New York Jets), Rayshad Williams (Las Vegas Raiders) and Tyler Owens (Washington Commanders).
Yates worked those three seasons at Texas Tech – and the two previous seasons at California (2020) and Oregon (2021) – alongside current K-State assistant head coach for defensive Tim DeRuyter.
Yates went to Texas Tech from Oregon, helping the Ducks produce one of the nation's most opportunistic defenses in the country in 2021, especially in the secondary where Oregon recorded 17 interceptions. Oregon closed the season ranked fifth in the country for total interceptions and 26th nationally with 22 takeaways following an appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl and ranking 13th in the final College Football Playoff Top 25.
Oregon's success defending the pass continued a trend from Yates' season at Cal where the Golden Bears ranked 23rd nationally and second in the Pac-12 in passing yards allowed per game (197.8).
Yates' time at California came on the heels of spending four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Arizona from 2016 through 2019 where he worked with both the defensive backs and linebackers during various points of his tenure in Tucson. Arizona intercepted 19 passes in 2017 to tie for seventh nationally and rank as the most for the program since 1985, while the Wildcats forced 24 turnovers to tie for 23rd in the country. Redshirt freshman cornerback Lorenzo Burns picked off five passes – the second most nationally by a freshman – and junior corner Jace Whittaker added three picks for Yates' starting cornerback duo.
The 2017 season saw Yates coach one of the youngest defenses in the Pac-12 with his unit regularly starting five freshmen, including linebackers Tony Fields and Colin Schooler, along with rush end Kylan Wilborn. Each was a true freshman, with Fields finishing as the team's leading tackler with 104 stops – the most by any UA freshman in over 20 years – Schooler racking up 13.5 tackles for loss (all in conference play) – the most by a freshman at Arizona since at least 1997 – and Wilborn registering 7.5 sacks to lead all Power 5 freshmen.
All three players earned Freshman All-America honors in 2017, including Schooler, who was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Additionally, six of Yates' defenders earned All-Pac-12 honors during his four years with the Wildcats.
Prior to Arizona, Yates spent a combined 11 seasons at Boise State, rising from cornerbacks (2003-05) and defensive backs (2006-11) coach to eventually being named the defensive coordinator (2014-15). In between, Yates spent two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Texas A&M (2012-13).
Boise State won 87.6% of its games during Yates' tenure, compiling a 127-18 record with nine seasons of at least 10 wins, including a pair of undefeated campaigns. The Broncos qualified for a bowl game in each of Yates' 11 seasons on staff and claimed eight conference championships (7 WAC, 1 Mountain West). Boise State concluded both undefeated seasons with victories in the Fiesta Bowl, defeating No. 10 Oklahoma to wrap the 2006 campaign and then No. 4 TCU to end a memorable 2009 campaign.
Yates excelled in developing often overlooked prospects into successful college football players and eventual NFL selections while at Boise State. From 2007 to 2016 alone, seven of Yates' defensive backs heard their names called during the NFL Draft with two more signing free agent deals on their way to long professional careers. Of those seven draft picks, four were selected in the first three rounds, which was highlighted by cornerback Kyle Wilson being selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
During his two seasons at Texas A&M, the Aggies were among the best teams in the country, helping the Aggies earn a No. 5 national ranking in 2012 as they won 11 games for the first time in 14 years. Texas A&M followed that with a 9-4 campaign in 2013, again concluding that season in the top 25 (No. 18).
Yates began his coaching career as an assistant secondary coach at Montana State in 2001 and 2002. In his second season, the Bobcats won their first Big Sky Conference title and earned their first trip to the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) playoffs in 18 years.
Yates was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Boise State (1996-99), which coincided with the school's first four years as a FBS program. His career culminated in the Broncos' first-ever bowl appearance, a victory over Louisville in the 1999 Humanitarian Bowl.
Yates earned his undergraduate degree in social science from Boise State in 2000. He has a son, Eric, and a daughter, Kaybrie.
THE MARCEL YATES FILE
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
College: Boise State – Bachelor's degree in Social Science (2000)
Family: Children: Eric and Kaybrie
Playing Career: Boise State (defensive back), 1996-99
MARCEL YATES' COACHING CAREER
2001-02, Montana State (Assistant Defensive Backs Coach)
2003-05, Boise State (Cornerbacks)
2006-10, Boise State (Defensive Backs)
2011, Boise State (Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2012-13, Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2014-15, Boise State (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2016, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2018, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2019, Arizona (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2020, California (Defensive Backs)
2021, Oregon (Passing Game Coordinator/Secondary)
2022-24, Texas Tech (Passing Game Coordinator/Secondary)
2026, K-State (Cornerbacks)
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How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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