Tyrone Pettaway was named Defensive Coordinator prior to the 2018 season after working as a defensive assistant for two seasons.

In his first three seasons as the coordinator, the Fire have had 11 First-Team All-Mid-South Sun Division selections and seven second team selections.  

During the 2018 season, the Fire led the NAIA in pass defense per game at 104.4 yards per game and pass defense efficiency at 75.7. SEU was third in opponent third down conversions at 28%, and were fifth in total defense at 268.8. Additionally, the Fire matched the program record for interceptions in a season with 11. 

The 2019 season saw the Fire score a program-record four defensive touchdowns and rank third nationally in sacks per game at 3.7, largely thanks to Mid-South Sun Division Defensive Freshman of the Year Loobert Denelus. 

In 2020, SEU was Top 10 in pass defense efficiency (76.3), pass defense per game (112.5), total defense (242.2), and scoring defense (13.5). 

Pettaway's focus was with the linebackers, mentoring Josh Schulte during the season he was named the Mid-South Sun Division’s Defensive Player of the Year. Will Tillo also earned all-conference recognition.
 
Prior to coming to Southeastern, Pettaway had coached at various levels of college and professional football, including NCAA Division I and NFL responsibilities. Prior to coming to Lakeland, the Newport News, Va. native coached the linebackers for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, and tutored rookie linebacker Jeff Knox Jr. to All-CFL West recognition.
 
Pettaway has also been an assistant linebacker coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and at the University of Southern California and the University of Tennessee. He also spent time as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins.