LUBBOCK – Ruffin McNeill's father rarely leaves his home on college football Saturdays and never gets too far from the phone.

McNeill's father, also named Ruffin McNeill, sits patiently every week awaiting a call from his son, the Texas Tech defensive coordinator. Ever since McNeill was a graduate assistant coach at Clemson in 1985, he's called his father at his home in Lumberton, N.C., before and after each game for a pep talk and evaluation.

McNeill said his 75-year-old father – a former high school science teacher who coached basketball and football – always seems to know just what to say.

"He has a good pulse on what's happening with the team even though he's not here," McNeill said.

But that's only because his son knows Tech's players better than anyone. McNeill isn't just a coach. He's a father figure who preaches tough love. In many eyes, McNeill is one of the key reasons why the Red Raiders are No. 2 in the BCS rankings and have a chance to clinch their first Big 12 South title with a win Saturday at No. 5 Oklahoma.

"He's as much a friend to you as he is your coach," senior defensive end Jake Ratliff said. "He'll be the first one to get in your face and tell you what you're doing wrong, but he'll be the first one to come slap you on the back and tell you you're doing a good job."

McNeill replaced Lyle Setencich as defensive coordinator after Tech's fourth game last season. And the Red Raiders' defense, which had ranked near the bottom of the Big 12 since Mike Leach took over in 2000, hasn't been the same since.

Ruffin McNeill

Suddenly, the Red Raiders aren't just known for their air-it-out offense. Tech ranks third in the Big 12 in total defense (351.4 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (22.2 points). The run defense is 20th nationally (107.4 yards).

"It's the best defense they've played since Mike's been there," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "Ruffin's done an outstanding job."

One of McNeill's first moves was to simplify the defensive schemes by cutting them in half to avoid clogging the minds of players. Some players have said that Setencich's numerous schemes led to confusion. McNeill said he could see players' hesitations on film.

McNeill said that if he sees hesitation during practice, he'll just eliminate that defensive scheme from the game plan. He said he's even thrown out schemes two days before a game.

"You want to be able to fire, trigger and take that first swing," McNeill said.

But he isn't all about fire. McNeill has a master's degree in counseling. He always tells his players he loves them and often talks to them more about life than football.

McNeill said teenagers today are no different from those when he was growing up: They want honesty and discipline. Those are attributes he said his father taught him.

"I've always told him that one of the greatest lessons a person can ever learn in life is, you have to love somebody to get love in return," Ruffin McNeill Sr. said. "But you have to be firm. If you're not firm, they'll eat you alive."

McNeill's father is still firm with him. He doesn't hold back when his son calls.

"I say, 'Tell the boys to hold down on the penalties and light that quarterback up,' " Ruffin McNeill Sr. said. "I'm real proud of him."

McNeill said Tech's family atmosphere has been contagious.

"This is the tightest team we've ever had here," McNeill said. "This is the best listening and applying group I've been around. It's a rare team."

School: Texas Tech

Position: Defensive coordinator

Age: 50

Hometown: Lumberton, N.C.

Personal: Wife, Erlene, and two daughters, Olivia and Ranata

Notable: Played defensive back at East Carolina from 1976 to 1980. ... Defensive coordinator at Appalachian State and UNLV. ... Charter member of coach Mike Leach's staff, joining Tech in 2000 as the linebackers coach. ... Said his grandfather, Alex McNeill, was one of the first African-American mail carriers in Fayetteville, N.C. ... Has yet to interview for a head coaching job. ... Name Ruffin came from the name of a family – Ruffin Horne – that Alex McNeill worked for in 1930s.