SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State Head Football Coach
GJ Kinne today announced the addition of three coaches to the Bobcat defense.
Will Windham will serve as TXST's defensive coordinator,
Marcus Patton will lead the Bobcat secondary and Chris Gistorb will coach the defensive line.
Will Windham
Windham comes to TXST after five seasons at South Alabama, where he most recently served as defensive coordinator and led the safeties room. Prior to that, Windham coached linebackers for three seasons.
The 2025 season saw the Jaguars finish third in the Sun Belt in fumbles recovered and fourth in total defense, passing yards allowed and first down defense. Individually, Nehemiah Chandler was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference, leading the league and ranking third nationally in passes defended, while Blayne Myrick was named All-SBC Second Team after earning preseason Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
In 2024, his first season leading the defense, Windham helped guide South Alabama to a 7–6 record and a victory in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. The Jaguars finished second in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing defense, allowing just 142.8 yards per game. The defense also recorded 16 interceptions during the 2024 season, ranking second in the conference and first in a single season for South Alabama.
Before being elevated to defensive coordinator, South Alabama produced the program's best marks in rushing and total defense since transitioning to the FBS in 2012. During that span, the Jaguars matched a school record with 15 interceptions and 25 total takeaways while posting the second-highest sack total in program history.
Windham joined South Alabama after three seasons at Kent State, where he coached inside linebackers before transitioning to safeties. He helped the Golden Flashes improve by five wins in 2019, culminating in a 7–6 record and the program's first-ever bowl victory at the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl.
Before his time at Kent State, Windham served as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia from 2016–17. He was part of a program that captured the 2017 SEC Championship and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Georgia also posted a nine-win season and a Liberty Bowl victory during his tenure.
Windham began his coaching career at Saint Stanislaus Prep, helping lead the program to a 4A state championship in 2009. He later served as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and Penn State and was an assistant coach at Davidson during the 2015 season.
A native of Tupelo, Mississippi, Windham earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Mississippi State in 2007 and his master's degree in kinesiology in 2012.
Marcus Patton
Patton spent the 2025 season at Sacramento State, serving as defensive coordinator.
This past season, the Hornet defense ranked among the best in the Big Sky Conference, leading the league in tackles for loss and sacks, while ranking in the top 10 nationally in both categories. The defense also registered 12 interceptions and five forced fumbles. Sacramento State improved its defensive scoring average by 8.5 points per game from the previous season.
Individually, Koa Akui and DeSean Watts earned first-team All-Big Sky honors. Akui totaled 65 tackles while leading the team with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries, while Watts finished the season with 36 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
Patton joined Sacramento State after serving as cornerbacks coach at Colorado State from 2022-24. Under his leadership, the Rams ranked third in the Mountain West in defensive passing efficiency in 2022. In 2024, Chigozie Anusiem and Dom Jones both earned all-conference honorable mention recognition, with Jones recording 61 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups. Colorado State finished the 2024 regular season 8-4 (6-1 Mountain West) and earned an invite to the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl.
Prior to Colorado State, Patton spent six seasons at Tarleton State as defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He helped guide the Texans through their transition to NCAA Division I in 2021, leading Tarleton to a 5-3 record. His defenses consistently ranked among the nation's best, including a historic 2018 season in which Tarleton State went 12-1, won the Lone Star Conference title and allowed just 16.4 points per game.
Patton has coached multiple conference players of the year, three All-Americans and several future professional athletes, including NFL linebacker E.J. Speed, the highest draft pick in program history.
He has also previously served as defensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa, where his 2015 defense ranked among the top 10 nationally in multiple categories and made coaching stops at various collegiate programs including UCLA, Indiana State and South Florida among others.
A St. Louis native, Patton played collegiately and earned his bachelor's degree at Kansas State from 2000-04.
Chris Gistorb
Gistorb comes to San Marcos after serving as defensive line coach at McNeese for the 2025 season where he coached first-team All-Southland Conference selection and incoming Bobcat Phillip Bradford. Prior to his time in Lake Charles, Gistorb spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Northwestern State as the defensive line coach, mentoring Phil Steele Freshman All-American defensive lineman Chancellor Owens, who joined TXST this January.
During the 2022 season, Gistorb served as a defensive quality control assistant at Louisiana, coaching first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection Zi'Yon Hill-Green and helping the program to an appearance in the Independence Bowl.
Gistorb's coaching career includes more than a decade of success in the Texas high school ranks, where he held defensive line and coordinator roles at multiple programs, including Cy Fair, Angleton, Bridgeland, Cy Ridge and Copperas Cove. Throughout his tenure, his defensive units consistently produced standout performers, and he played a key role in the development of numerous all-district, all-region and collegiate signees.
A Louisiana native, Gistorb earned his bachelor's degree from Louisiana in 2002.
