Steve Stanard - Football Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Steve Stanard

Title:
Interim Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Email:
ssstanar@syr.edu
Phone:
6731

A veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience, including 20 seasons as a defensive coordinator, Steve Stanard is in his fourth season at Syracuse. Stanard coached the Orange defensive ends from 2017-19 before transitioning to the role of linebackers coach in 2020. He also served as the interim defensive coordinator for three games at the end of the 2019 season.

Stanard’s work with the Orange’s edge rushers has been a primary factor in the Orange's rise to becoming one of the most disruptive defenses in college football. Syracuse has 56 takeaways the past two seasons (2.2 per game) and owns a +22 turnover margin over that span. The Orange are one of two FBS teams (Arizona State is other) to rank in the top 15 in average turnover margin in both 2018 and 2019. Syracuse ranked fifth in 2018 (+1.0) and No. 13 in 2019 (+0.75).

As Syracuse's defensive ends coach from 2017-19, Stanard guided the careers of Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman, who developed into one of the ACC's most productive tandems during that time. Robinson logged 32.5 career tackles for loss and finished his career seventh in team history with 17.5 sacks. Coleman registered 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.

In 2017, Robinson led Syracuse in sacks and Stanard’s crew contributed to a defensive unit that allowed 6.4 fewer points, 28.3 fewer rushing yards and 57.1 fewer total yards per game than it did in 2016. The Orange were also one of the best in the country on third down, ranking No. 13 in the FBS in third-down defense (.311).

The 2018 campaign yielded even better results. Syracuse ranked in the top 10 nationally in five statistical categories, including sacks per game (6th - 3.31). Robinson developed into a All-ACC Second Team performer and combined with Coleman to produce 20 sacks – the most of any ACC duo. Both players led the conference and tied for eighth nationally in sacks per game (0.83). Overall, Stanard’s unit was responsible for 29 of Syracuse’s school-record 43 sacks to help the Orange to a 10-3 record and the 2018 Camping World Bowl Championship.

In 2019, the Orange ranked No. 12 nationally in turnovers gained (25) and No. 11 in fumbles recovered (12). Robinson garnered All-ACC Honorable Mention laurels, while Coleman was voted to the All-ECAC Team for the second year in a row. Coleman also earned the Bill Horr Award as Syracuse's MVP.

Prior to joining the Syracuse staff, Stanard served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wyoming under head coach Craig Bohl from 2014-16. Stanard also worked for Bohl in 2012 and 2013 as the linebackers coach at North Dakota State. During Stanard’s two years with the Bison, NDSU went 29-1 and captured consecutive FCS national titles. In addition to his successful FCS playoff runs at NDSU, Stanard’s postseason experience includes six bowl games and an NAIA national playoff appearance.

Stanard’s Wyoming defenses featured three players who earned All-Mountain West honors – defensive end Eddie Yarbrough, safety Andrew Wingard and linebacker Lucas Wacha. Wingard was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America First Team in 2015. The next year, Stanard protégé Logan Wilson led all conference rookies in tackles per game (6.7) and was voted the 2016 Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Stanard’s unit helped Wyoming to a berth in the 2016 Mountain West title game and to an appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl opposite BYU. The Cowboys ranked third nationally with five defensive touchdowns and were 10th in the country in takeaways (27).

At NDSU, Stanard’s work with the linebackers contributed to the Bison boasting the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense in both 2012 and 2013. NDSU allowed 11.5 points per game in 2012 and only 11.3 points per contest the following year. In 2013, the Bison also ranked third in the FCS in total defense (255.9 ypg), second in passing efficiency defense (97.59 rating), third in rushing defense (91.3 ypg) and eighth in passing defense (164.6 ypg). That season, Stanard coached Grant Olson, who was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.

In 2012, not only did the Bison lead the FCS in scoring defense, but NDSU was No. 1 in total defense (234.5 ypg) and first downs allowed per game (12.7).

Stanard’s experience as a defensive coordinator includes running defenses at five schools in addition to Wyoming. He spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tulane (2009-11), five years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Colorado State (2003-07), three years as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State (2000-02), one season as the defensive coordinator at South Dakota (1996) and five years as the defensive coordinator at Nebraska Wesleyan (1991-95).

In addition to his two decades as a coordinator, Stanard served as the defensive line coach at Ohio in 2008. He coached the defensive ends and outside linebackers from 1997-99 at New Mexico State before being named the Aggies’ defensive coordinator in 2000.

Highlights from Stanard’s previous stops include Tulane, where the Green Wave led Conference USA in passing defense in two out of his three seasons there. At Colorado State, he helped the Rams to two bowl appearances, coached four defenders to All-Mountain West First or Second Team honors, and another 24 to All-MW Honorable Mention recognition.

At New Mexico State, Stanard mentored linebackers Dwayne Taylor and Jimmy Cottrell. Taylor was a three-time all-conference selection. Taylor went on to play in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes.

Stanard began his college coaching career in 1988 as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, under legendary head coach Tom Osborne. A linebacker for the Huskers from 1984-87, Stanard saw Nebraska earn seven bowl invitations during his time in Lincoln as both a coach and student-athlete.

After a three-year stint with the Huskers, Stanard received his first full-time job in 1991 coaching at Nebraska Wesleyan. He served as the school’s defensive coordinator, and later, head coach and assistant athletic director.

Stanard earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1989. He received his master’s degree in business administration from the school in 1995.

Stanard and his wife, Jennifer, have four children – Austin, Paige, Max and Madison.

THE STANARD FILE
Experience: 33rd season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
Alma Mater: Nebraska '89
Family: wife, Jennifer; sons, Austin, Max; daughters, Paige, Madison

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Nebraska (1984-87)

COACHING LEDGER
Years	School	Position
1988	Nebraska	Student Assistant Coach
1989-90	Nebraska	Graduate Assistant
1991-93	Nebraska Wesleyan	Defensive Coordinator
1994-95	Nebraska Wesleyan	Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
1996	South Dakota	Defensive Coordinator
1997-99	New Mexico State	Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers
2000-02	New Mexico State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2003-07	Colorado State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2008	Ohio	Defensive Line
2009-11	Tulane	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2012-13	North Dakota State	Linebackers
2014-16	Wyoming	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2017-present	Syracuse	Defensive Ends

POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1989 Orange Bowl
1990 Fiesta Bowl
1991 Citrus Bowl
1991 NAIA Division II Playoffs (Second Round)
2003 San Francisco Bowl
2005 Poinsettia Bowl
2012 FCS Playoffs (Champions)
2013 FCS Playoffs (Champions)
2016 Poinsettia Bowl
2018 Camping World Bowl

PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
New Mexico State
Jimmy Cottrell (Baltimore Ravens)

Tulane
Dezman Moses (Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs)

Wyoming
Mark Nzeocha (Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers)
Lucas Wacha (Dallas Cowboys, Hamilton Tiger-Cats - CFL)
Logan Wilson (2016 Mountain West Freshman of the Year)
Andrew Wingard (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Syracuse
Kendall Coleman (Two-time All-ECAC selection)
Alton Robinson (2018 All-ACC Second Team, 2019 All-ACC Honorable Mention)