Stephen Adegoke pronounced add-uh-go-KAY, enters his sixth season of coaching and third in the NFL, returning as the Houston Texans' safeties coach in 2024. Prior to his time in Houston, he spent the 2022 season as the San Francisco 49ers defensive quality control coach working alongside former 49ers defensive coordinator and current Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans.
In his first season with the Texans, Adegoke led a safeties unit that contributed to a much-improved Houston defense in 2023. Adegoke played a role in the growth of second-year S Jalen Pitre and veteran S Jimmie Ward, who Adegoke coached during his time with the 49ers. Ward tallied 50 tackles (33 solo), three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one game winning interception in Week 13 vs. Denver (12/3). He also saw veteran S DeAndre Houston-Carson finish with career-highs in both interceptions (2) and passes defensed (5).
In his first NFL coaching role, Adegoke helped coach a 49ers defense that held their opponents to the lowest total yards per game (300.6) and the most interceptions (20) in 2022. The team also surrendered just 17.1 first downs per game and 77.7 rushing yards per game, both of which ranked second in the league. San Francisco's defensive unit saw second-year player S Talanoa Hufanga reach his first-career Pro Bowl and was named AP First-Team All-Pro, PFWA All-NFL Team and PFWA All-NFC Team. Hufanga finished the 2022 season with 95 tackles (65 solo), 2.0 sacks, four interceptions, nine passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
Prior to joining the 49ers coaching staff, Adegoke served as a graduate assistant for the University of Michigan (2021) working under Jim Harbaugh. At Michigan, Adegoke guided a defense that was led by consensus All-American DL Aidan Hutchinson. As a senior, Hutchinson posted 62 tackles (36 solo) and 14.0 sacks, which set a new school record for most sacks in a single season. The Wolverines defensive unit allowed just 17 points per game and claimed a Big Ten Conference Championship, and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Adegoke began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the University of Florida for two seasons (2019-20). He helped the Gators defense finish tied for seventh in the country and first in the SEC with 35.0 sacks on the 2020 season. Florida's defense also totaled the second-most tackles for loss in the conference (73) and held opponents to 257.5 passing yards per game that season. In 2019, Adegoke overlapped with DL Jonathan Greenard, who spent his fifth-year of eligibility at Florida after playing four seasons at Louisville (2015-19).
Adegoke spent three years at Mississippi State University (2016-18) after transferring from San Diego Mesa College (2014-15). In two seasons as a safety for Mississippi State (2017-18), he appeared in 16 games and registered 14 tackles, three passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Mississippi State in 2018 followed by his master's degree in sport management from Florida in 2021.
